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CYPRUS rugby captain Tony Thoma has expressed his satisfaction with the performance of the Moufflons on Saturday, after they crushed Azerbaijan 59-0 at the Paphiakos Stadium.

“This is exactly the result we needed before our crucial game against Bosnia at the end of the month. The guys were brilliant,” he said.

Cyprus Rugby Federation president-elect Johnny Stavrinou who also officiated as touch judge, added to the plaudits, saying the team, “performed magnificently and it was very satisfying to see so many Cypriots turning out to support the national side.”

The match was watched by Irish Ambassador Thomas Brady, who has been a stalwart supporter of the national side, and who was guest of honour at the celebration dinner.

Loukis Pattihis, Federation president, paid special tribute to Brady, presenting him with a Cyprus international shirt for his outstanding support of the Moufflons.

Next up for Cyprus at the Paphiakos are Bosnia on March 27. If Cyprus come out on top, they will be promoted into the next division in Europe, one which includes Greece and Israel.

While the match against Azerbaijan would not affect the home side’s promotion hopes, it was essential that they achieved an impressive win and, more importantly, emerge without injury.

Last year Cyprus suffered some severe injuries at the hands of the very powerful Azeris as a result of poor refereeing, which left them weakened for their remaining internationals.

Thankfully, the Moufflons came through unscathed this time.

In front of a packed stadium, Cyprus had to overcome a massive pack of forwards that unsettled them for some time, but the indiscipline of the visitors led to three infringements that gave Marcus Holden the opportunity to slot over three penalties giving Cyprus a 9-0 lead in the first nine minutes.

Five minutes later, the immaculate Holden scythed through the opposition in a brilliant solo effort to score in the corner.

This was followed by a series of close handling moves by the backs enabling speedy Moufflon captain Thoma to touch down.

At this stage the home side began to compensate for the weight and height advantage of the Azeris by skilful tactical play by  Thoma and rapid ball gave ‘Gorgeous’ George Agathocleous, the veteran centre who can frighten the opposition just by looking at them, a try near the posts which was simply converted by Holden.

It was significant that the Azeris had built their game plan around the forwards because they had no answer to the fast and penetrating Moufflon backs.

The most effective Azeri players were the two props, Aliyev and Gasimov, who not only dominated in the set pieces but proved to be dangerous in the loose. But the defence displayed by the Cyprus back row and backs ensured there was no score.

The second half saw the home side grind down the opposition and engage in a try-fest, leading to scores by Robert Brown, a brilliant effort by Dino Markou, one under the posts by fly-half Dan Thrasivoulou, another for ‘Gorgeous George’, and a second for winger Brown.

Three were converted by Holden who was named man of the match, and justifiably so.

Douglas Carlton, the match coach and team manager Theo Lenos used their substitutes wisely, capping the young Turkish Cypriot Burhan Torgut, and making sure that all the overseas Cypriots got in the game.

The brave Azeris left the field without scoring but bravely stuck to the task.

The match was expertly refereed by Joop Zandvlie who left the players in no doubt what the consequence of indiscipline would be, with three sin bins.