Malta 10 Poland 6
(4-1)(4-1)(1-3)(1-1)
Malta opened up its commitment with a well earned victory over the Polish outfit, which materialised before the interval, when the local lads had established a solid advantage. Poland came back after the break, and threatened for some time, but two Maltese strikes, on either side of the start of the last quarter, settled the local's nerves. Poland could only net again late in the match, and the victory was assured.
The Maltese opened up well on one hand, as they built up a four goal cushion, with an opening brace by Matthew Zammit, and others by Nicky Bugelli and Michael Rizzo, but careless play, on four man ups, failed to increase their advantage, with Poland pulling a goal back, when the locals had two men out. In the second session a Polish penalty throw reduced Malta's advantage once more, but then the Poles were hit once more, as the locals rattled in four more goals, this time con vertine two man ups, from Matthew Zammit and Jordan camilleri, and there were also two penalty throws, scored by Aurelien Cousin and Dino Zammit. At the interval Malta were cruising on a healthy 8-2 advantage.
After the break man ups were again being frittered away, three in all, and Poland profited, as they struck three times more, for a closer scoreline. Finally, late in the session Jerome Gabarretta scored from close range, to take his side to a 9-5 advantage, going into the last period of play.
Matthew Zammit eased the minds, with an early goal, for his poker score. The two sides were again guilty of lost occasions, with an extra player in the water, more so the Poles, who failed on three occasions to Malta's only man up. Poland then added a further goal. in the last stages of the encounter, but this didn't really make any difference, with so little time left on the clock.
Malta: N. Grixti , J. Gabarretta 1, P. Borg , N. Bugelli 1, M. Meli , M. Zammit 4, M. Spiteri Staines , J. Camilleri 1, B. Plumpton , A. Cousin 1, M. Rizzo 1, D. Zammit 1, R. Coleiro
Poland: M. Diskonow , B. Kowalewski 2, G. Mos , I. Piecuch , P. Piatek , O. Szymonik , P. Michalski 1, Mi. Bar , T. Sypula 1, B. Szymanski , M. Bar1 , B. Szymanski 1, J. Szablowski ,
Referees: Massimo Costrilli (SUI) Anna Goncharenko (UKR)
Other results
Group A
South Africa 24 Wales 4
(4-1)(8-0)(6-2)(6-1)
Austria 9 Lithuania 7
(2-2)(2-3)(3-1)(2-1)
Group B
Switzerland 8 Scotland 6
(3-2)(1-1)(1-1)(3-2)
Fixtures for Friday
09.00 Group A Wales v Austria
10-15 Group B Scotland v malta
11-30 Group A Lithuania v Ireland
12.45 Group B Denmark v Switzerland
16.00 Group A South Africa v Austria
17.15 Group B Poland v Scotland
18.30 Group A Ireland v Wales
19.45 Group B Malta v Denmark