SAN ĠILJAN TUM INVEST             10
NEPTUNES LEO VEGAS                  10
(2-2), (2-2), (3-3), (3-3)

Champions San Ġiljan TUM Invest dropped their first points in a while as they were held by Neptunes Leo Vegas in a 10-10 draw that left everyone present at the National Pool satisfied that they didn’t lose to their rivals.

Both coaches Marko Orlovic and Jovan Popovic handled well the game and were punctual in their decision making to give their team the best chance of winning. Stevie Camilleri, who was returning, and Petar Muslim on one side, and Paulo Obradovic and Matthew Zammit on the other side apart from other quality players that made the match interesting and difficult for the referees to control.

San Ġiljan were never in the lead and always had to recover to stay in the game, but Neptunes didn’t have an advantage of more than two goals during the game.

Neptunes struck first from a penalty by Stevie Camilleri and Petar Muslim but San Ġiljan responded with two quick goals in the last part of the session from Peter Borg and Ben Plumpton. A brace by Jordan Camilleri gave Neptunes a 4-2 lead but San Ġiljan scored again in the last two minutes of the session.

Stevie Camilleri (R) of Neptunes Frank Salt Real Estate shoots despite the close attention of Darren Zammit of San Giljan TUM Invest. Photo: Domenic Aquilina

Balance reigned in the match and for the third time, San Ġiljan had to recover from two goals down, but this time they had to respond from another goal by Jordan Camilleri and equalised from Peter Borg to make the score 7-7.

The last session was a tit for tat as they both knew that the match will be decided in the last eight minutes. Neptunes again had the upper hand but San Ġiljan equalised three times from Paulo Obradovic, Dino Zammit and Ben Plumpton.

Both teams had several attacks to score the winning goal and San Ġiljan went close twice from Paulo Obradovic but he hit the post.

The draw brought San Giljan's 45-match winning streak to an end, but the saints are now unbeaten in 46 matches.

San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, P. Borg (2), A. Galea, B. Grech, C. Farrugia, M. Zammit (1), B. Plumpton (2), Da. Zammit, T. Said, P. Obradovic (3), P. Fava, Di. Zammit (2), T. Micallef

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon, K. Erdogan, G. Pace (1), P. Muslim (2), N. Zammit, S. Camilleri (3), J. Camilleri (4), J. Abela, M. Zammit, J. Muscat, M. Azzopardi, J. Parnis

Referees: Peter Balzan, Filippo Gomez

 

Canadian Nicolas Constantin Bicari (4 blue cap) of Sirens Greentube tries to find a gap past the Valletta Videoslots defence. Photo: Domenic Aquilina

VALLETTA VIDEOSLOTS                 8
SIRENS GREENTUBE                     11
(2-2), (2-2), (1-3), (3-4)

Sirens Greentube registered their first win of the campaign beating Valletta Videoslots 11-8. This result leaves Valletta still with no points after five games as a difficult season is approaching them.

Bogdan Rath’s team are always having two good sessions but after falling behind their opponents after the restart they fail to recover. Sirens still have to play at their level this season but a win is always a win.

Sirens recovered from two goals by Valletta, with two goals in the last two minutes from Nicolas Bicari and Isaiah Riolo. Valletta regained their lead in the second session in two occasions, but Sirens were brave enough to respond as both teams started the third session 4-4.

In the absence of their coach Marco Baldinetti who was suspended, Sirens managed to score three goals in three minutes in the first half of the third session. Valletta tried to stay in the game, and from 7-4, managed to reduce the deficit to 8-7.

Brownrigg made it 9-7 but Toth reduced the deficit again. That was until Bicari and Riolo ended Valletta’s hopes with two consecutive goals.

Valletta: R. Sciortino, J. Spiteri Staines (1), A. Agius, M. Mifsud, T. Agius, R. Mock (2), D. Paoella, M. Toth (3), N. Farrugia, C. Zammit (2), K. Galea, N. Bonello Ghio, M. Lanzon

Sirens: N. Grixti, P. Privitera, E. Aquilina (1), N. Bicari (2), M. Grech (1), I. Riolo (3), C. Mercieca (1), J. Sciberras, J. Napier (1), J. Ciantar, L. Caruana, J. Brownrigg (2), O. Gauci

Referees: Ronnie Spiteri, Fabio Brasiliano