SAN ĠILJAN TUM INVEST      10
SLIEMA FRANK SALT                7
(2-1), (4-3), (0-3), (4-0)

Holders San Ġiljan TUM Invest edged Sliema Frank Salt in a tight encounter. This win confirmed their strength despite playing for almost two session without their captain Matthew Zammit who was sent-off.

Sliema looked timid at times albeit they were more disciplined in the first two sessions. They had a brilliant third session where they capitalised on San Ġiljan's lack of concentration after losing Matthew Zammit.

Both teams failed to take a good number of man-ups as both teams scored only twice. In the last session, San Ġiljan managed to equalise from Darren Zammit and after Ben Plumpton put Marko Orlovic's team in front, the game had one direction as Neptunes scored twice from counter-attacks to seal the three points.

San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, D. Ciantar, A. Galea (1), B. Grech, K. Dowling (2), M. Zammit (1), B. Plumpton (2), C. Farrugia, T. Said, Da. Zammit (2), P. Fava, D. Zammit (2), K. Magri, J. Bonavia, Z. Micallef

Sliema: J. Sammut, C. Cutajar, G. Blundell, J. Sciberras (2), M. Meli (1), B. Cachia (1), M. Spiteri Staines, K. Tanti, B. Zammit, D. Fenech, Z. Mizzi (1), N. Bugelli (2), Z. Sciberras, M. Carani, J. Saliba

Referees: Massimo Angileri, Stefan Licari

 

SIRENS GREENTUBE               10
BIRŻEBBUĠA FREEPORT          8
(2-1), (3-3), (3-2), (2-2)

Sirens remained the only team unbeaten in this edition. They escaped a surprise outcome as they had to work harder than expected to defeat Birżebbuġa Freeport 10-8. Sirens welcomed back Edward Aquilina and Paul Privitera but still lacked John Brownrigg.

In reality, Sirens almost never were in danger of losing the game but they didn't have the killer instinct to close the game before, and it was only after Jerome Zerafa Gregory made it 10-7 the Sirens assured themselves of the win.

Credit goes to Birżebbuġa who under the helm of experienced coach Pierre Borg are working hard to be ready for the main season. They are the only team from the First Divison that are competing.

Sirens: N. Grixti, J. Ciantar (1), E. Aquilina (1), P. Privitera (1), M. Grech (2), L. Grech Carr, J. Zerafa Gregory (1), I. Riolo (1), J. Napier (1), L. Falzon, L. Caruana, M. Sciberras (2), G. Galea Curmi, Z. Bartolo, G. Mellilo

Birżebbuġa: D. Spiteri, K. Camilleri, N. Cassar, D. Pace Lupi (4), C. Mifsud (2), R. Spiteri, S. Vassallo (1), S. Cutajar, Z. Farrugia Seychell, M. Cutajar (1), M. Borg, J. Buhagiar, J. Cremona

Referees: Ronnie Spiteri, Neville Mercieca

 

EXILES ELIA CATERERS           12
NEPTUNES LEO VEGAS             16
(4-2), (2-5), (3-6), (3-3)

Neptunes are the new leaders after defeating Exiles Elia Caterers in an openly game. Jovan Popovic's team recovered from a slow start as they were even 3-0 down in the first session.

They started to get back in the game and equalised with less than three minutes from the end of the second session. From then onwards, Neptunes took control of the game and ended the session 7-6 in front.

Neptunes started the third session on a high and assured themselves of the win after goals by Nikolai Zammit and a hat-trick by veteran Niki Lanzon. From the onwards, Neptunes controlled the game as Exiles were trying to limit the damage, which in fact they did, earning at least respectable result.

Exiles: M. Castillo, C. von Brockdorff, A. Magri, L. Felice, T. Sullivan (5), S. Xerri de Caro (2), M. Fenech (1), K. Griscti (2), N. Paris, A. Cousin (2), S. Apap, M. Martin

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon (4), K. Erdogan (1), G. Pace (1), M. Martellacci, V. Ragone, J. Muscat (2), S. Busuttil, J. Abela (4), N. Zammit (3), J. Spiteri, M. Azzopardi (1), B. Busuttil, I. Zammit

Referees: Ronnie Spiteri, Alex De Raffaele