Sliema Frank Salt 13 Sirens Ritter Sport 14
(4-5, 3-3, 3-3, 3-3)
Sirens went one better than in their first encounter against Sliema. That time Sliema tied the match three seconds from time, with a penalty. This time SDirens were again ahead in the alst stages, but they held out, evehn with two man ups against them, to obtain all three points from the match, and reach Silema, on ten points, in joint third place in the standings.
Sliema had Ryan Coleiro again in goal, after missing the last match, but he only lasted till late in the opening session, when his injury cropped up again, and Zach Sciberras once more took his place. Michael Spiteri Staines and Nicky Bugelli were still missing for Sliema, with Mark Fenech keeping his place.
Both sides were in front in the first period, but soon after Sciberras went in goal, he was beaten by Christian Presciutti, who put Sirens ahead once more. Then came three full sessions, with both sides locked at three strikes each. Sliema lost a lead in teh second session, and Presciutti again had Sirens in front,with a penalty, after a gaffe by the Sliema goalie, for an 8-7 score.
After the break Sirens held a double advantage, but Michael Bodegas reduced the deficit for Sliema, who lost Nikola Dedovic on fouls soon after. Sirens went into the last quarter 11-10 in front. John Soler's brace of goals had Sliema in front. Another Presciutti penalty tied the score, with Bodegas, also from a penalty, putting Sliema ahead for the last time. Sirens overturned the score with a couple of goals, and then grimly held out till the end, with Sliema failing to score from their last two man ups.
Both sides were eleven times with an extra player in the water, with Sirens scoring seven times to Sliema's five.
Presciutti scored a nap hand of goals for Sirens, with three penalties. Jerome Gabarretta also scored five times for Sliema, with Bodegas grabbing a poker of goals, with a penalty throw.
Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 5, K. Dowling , T. Sullivan , M. Meli , J. Soler 3, M. Fenech , C. Cluett, J. Brownrigg , M. Bodegas 4, A. Attard 1, N. Dedovic , Z Sciberras
Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Mizzi , C. Presciutti 5, G. Pace 2, M. Grech 2, C. Kiss 1, M. Caruana , D. Cutajar 1, J. Napier, E. Aquilina 2, L. Caruana 1, A. Sammut , I. Riolo
Referees: M. Dalli, G. Fusco
BOV 1 Div. League
Ta Xbiex recovery gives them the spoils
Otters Nivea 8 Ta Xbiex Amigos 9
(0-1, 4-1, 3-2, 1-5)
A good recovery, in the third session of the match enables the league leaders to consolidate their position at the top of the table. Ta Xbiex had a changed side, with goalie Jurgen Micallef and Aleandro Mifsud both abroad, and Georg Zammit injured, with Liam Pace going in goal.
Ta Xbiex scored the only goal in the opening session, but the Gozitans were were more active in the next period, when they scored four times to ta Xbiex' only goal once more. At the interval Otters were leading 4-2, and when their advantage increased, to a 7-3 score, after the break, Otters were looking at their first points of the season, but Ta Xbiex suddenly went into top gear. Mark kallay reduced their arrears, for a 4-7 score, going into the last session. Ta Xbiex let loose with a five goal burst, as Adam maklari scored three times, to Joseph Galea's brace. Otters did manage to pull a goal back, but there were only seconds left, and Ta Xbiex kept possession, to recover from their last match, when they lost to M'Scala.
Otters scored in two of their four man ups, with ta Xbiex managing three goals from seven occasions. Maklari was again the Ta Xbiex top scorer, with five goals, and Galea scored another three. Otters had Edward Meli with a hat trick.
Otters: R. Bonnici, M. Borg Millo, M. Paris , L. Gialanze , F. Klajajevic ,E. Meli 3, G. Mizzi , S. Dimech 1, N. Paris 1, D. Borg Millo 1, C. Martin, S. Aksentijevic 2, P. Theuma
Ta Xbiex: L. Pace, A. Maklari 5, A. Camenzuli , G. Attard , M. Kallay 1,K. Mock , J. Galea3 , E. Gravina , M. Zammit , J. Tanti , K. Debattista , P. Micallef , K. Grima Scott
Referees:S. Licari, B. D'Alessio