Hibernians 82 Depiro 43
(18-4, 28-7, 22-8, 14-24)
The first final was a decisive step taken by the champions, as they established a winning margin over their opponents. Hibs came out in earnest, to establish an early advantage, which they managed to do. Depiro could not contain their adversaries, as the Paolites continued to increase their advantage, in the first three sessions. Depiro were no match, and they can expect another hectic time in the return encounter.
The only change in the Hibs' line up was Britney Agius taking the place of her injured sister, Iona. Depiro had Noelene Agius and Julia Schembri missing, but there were the returning Claire Ciantar, Gaby Mifsud and Emily Cassar.
The Paolites came out strongly, to tie their opponents down in long defence work. Their opening hoop did have a reply, with a Depiro free shot, but then the champions embarked on a long 14-0 run, as Sophie Abela, the American, Amelia Simmons and Leanne Duncan all found their mark. Depiro stopped them with a Steffi De Martino triple, with Abela closing down the opening period with her hoop. In the second session Depiro did manage some more sporadic inroads, but their adversaries kept on their merry way. Abela and Simmons enhanced their personal tally, troubling the Depiro defence no end, and Duncan also found space to sink a triple. Depiro kept falling behind, and by the time that the interval arrived, Hibs had gone on to a heavy 46-11 advantage.
After the break the Paolites hit their opponents once more, with an early 9-0 run, as Simmons was supreme under the boards. Agius netted her second trey for Depiro, with three other hoops coming their way, till the end of the session, but Hibs were still putting in their points, through Simmons, and there was also a late Jasmine Abela trey, as she came off the bench. At the start of the last quarter the champions were on a 68-19 lead. The last part of the match was of a different nature, as Hibs began to let off, and Depiro managed to hike up their score. They began with a three-hoop spread, before Hibs replied with a brace of hoops. Then the triples began to fly in, as Depiro netted four, through Nicole Agius and Gaby Mifsud, who potted two each. Hibs had two more bench players obtaining treys, Naomi Farrugia and Britney Agius, as the Paolites kept a firm hold on this final, with a heavy advantage, to take into the return match, next Sunday.
Hibernians: E. Micallef 2, E. Cassar 6, K. Calleja, S. Brincat 4, B. Agius 3, J. Abela 3, S. Abela 11, A. Simmons 41, N. Farrugia 3, H. Al Tumi, K. Caruana 2, L. Duncan 7
Depiro: Ni. Agius 12, G. Mifsud 14, C. Camilleri, S. DeMartino5, D. Said Hollier 4, M. Scicluna, N. Hili 2, C. Ciantar 6, A. Mifsud, E. Cassar
Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, N. Azzopardi, C. Xuereb