NEPTUNES LEO VEGAS         8
SIRENS GREENTUBE            9
(1-0), (3-2), (1-4), (3-3)

Sirens Greentube will contest the final of the Enemed Cup after defeating favourites Neptunes Leo Vegas 9-8 in a tight encounter. The teams played against each other a week ago and it was Neptunes who finished as winners.

This time it was a great comeback by Popovski's team as they had to battle from 5-2 down. Neptunes looked to be in the driving seat after a positive two sessions, which they both won, and looked to be more cynical than their opponents.

Neptunes eneded the second session 4-2 in front and Gabriel Pace even widened the gap in the beginning of the third session. Sirens started the comeback and till the middle of the third session they recovered their three-goal difference.

Isaiah Riolo put Sirens for the first time in the lead with a bit more than two minutes left till the end of the third session. Neptunes had the task to edge their opponents in the last session, but in three occasions they responded only to the goals by Sirens as they kept the gap to one goal till the last moments.

They had the opportunity to equalise in their last action of the game as they were awarded a penalty after a foul by Marc Grech but the penalty by Niki Lanzon was brilliantly saved by Nicky Grixti as he capped off a positive performance with a decisive save.

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

Sirens: N. Grixti, J. Ciantar, E. Aquilina, P. Privitera (2), M. Grech (1), G. Farrugia, J. Zerafa Gregory (2), I. Riolo (3), J. Napier (1), L. Falzon, L. Caruana, M. Sciberras, G. Galea Curmi

Referees: Neville Mercieca, Stefan Licari

 

SAN ĠILJAN TUM INVEST           12
SLIEMA FRANK SALT                   5
(2-0), (4-2), (3-1), (3-2)

This game was supposed to be a balanced affair as both teams were searching to stay on course to win the first competition of the year. In the first phase, San Ġiljan TUM Invest defeated Sliema Frank Salt 10-7 but this time, the game had a different picture as San Ġiljan won easily 12-5.

Sliema were never in the game. They were never in front and never made amends after a slow start. Dino Zammit was in lethal form, scoring in every session for a total tally of seven goals.

San Ġiljan built a comfortable 6-2 lead by the end of the second session. Two of the four goals scored by Dino Zammit were from penalty while their captain Matthew Zammit scored the other two goals. Sliema could only respond with goals from Michael Spiteri Staines and Zach Mizzi.

The game was already heading in the direction of San Ġiljan, but the holders made sure of the win in the third period, scoring three times with no reply in four minutes. Few seconds after Benji Cachia reduced the gap, Sliema lost their captain Mark Meli as he was sent off.

San Ġiljan continued to control with ease the encounter in the last session as both coaches made more use of the squad.

San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, D. Ciantar, A. Galea, B. Grech (1), K. Dowling, M. Zammit (3), B. Plumpton, C. Farrugia, T. Said, Da. Zammit, P. Fava, Di. Zammit (7), T. Micallef, A. Saliba, M. Ortoleva (1)

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

Referees: Mario Dalli, Ronnie Spiteri