By Erick Elefante

At the end of a hard played win by the Philippine Tamaraws over the Malta Knights, foundation Philippines player Steven Bernstrom remarked to Philippines Rugby League co-founder Erick Elefante: “This is my last game of Rugby League for the Philippines. It’s awesome that we’ve ended the way we started".

The Tamaraws came from behind to beat Malta 26-24 after a 90 metre intercept try by centre Ned Stephenson with less than two minutes remaining on the clock.

"We won the Bowl Trophy here at the Cabramatta International 9s in 2012 in the dying minutes. Today we won again in Cabramatta in the last minute as well. It’s awesome to finish my Rugby League career this way," Bernstrom said

The Philippines first try in the 7th minute of play came from a cross-field kick spilled by the Malta Centre which was then gathered by Johansel Avery to score adjacent to the post, which was duly converted by Nikolas Forest for a 6-0 lead.

The majority of the first half was a hard played arm wrestle between the two sides. In the 25th minute of play. Malta gave away a penalty in the Philippines quarter, holding down fullback Jerome Williams for too long in a tackle.

The ensuing penalty kick took the Philippines into the Malta quarter. With forwards Jeromy Cairns and Jordan Jones taking the ball closer to the Malta try line a cut-out pass by Gerald Ubado found Ned Stephenson, who passed to Issac Rosario for the Philippines' second try in the corner.

Malta did not give up and came up with the next converted try for a 10-6 scoreline to the Philippines.

With the clock counting down to end the first half a barn storming run by debutant front rower Liam Byrnes took the Philippines close to the Malta try line. The succeeding cut out pass to the wing, found Issac Rosario scoring in the corner for his second try, which was converted from the sideline by Nikolas Forrest.

Unlike their first half performance, Malta came out firing and dominating the second half to score three unanswered converted tries for a 24-16 lead.

With 15 minutes left on the clock the Philippines fight back revives. A sweeping passing movement across the back line saw Isaac Acheampong barge over the try line surrounded by three Malta players, but he was deemed to have been held up in goal.

Isaac Acheampong did not give up and with nine minutes left on the clock he scored in the corner, narrowing Malta’s lead to 24-20.

With two minutes left and Malta camped in the Philippines quarter, Ned Stephenson collects an intercept pass and runs 90metres to score under the posts, giving Nikolas Forrest an easy conversion and Philippines a lead of 26-24.

Philippines 26
Tries: Issac Rosario *2, Johansel Avery, Isaac Acheampong, Ned Stephenson; Goals: Nikolas Forrest *3

Jerome Williams, Isaac Acheampong, Johansel Avery, Ned Stephenson, Issac Rosario, Gerald Ubaldo, Nikolas Forrest, Ian Nelson, Tyrone Tootell, Jeromy Cairns, Russell Nelson, Steve Bernstrom, James Hannaford, Ashley Marshall, Liam Byrnes, Juan Carlos Almonte, Jordan Jones
Coach – Paul Sheedy, Assistant Coach – Jason Carter, Manager – Michael Godfrey

Malta 24