NEPTUNES LEO VEGAS            13
VALLETTA VIDEOSLOTS          12
(5-2), (2-2), (6-3), (0-5)

It was a deserved win for Neptunes Leo Vegas but they risked it in the end after a late comeback from Valletta Videoslots who are showing that they are no pushovers at this stage. Neptunes were always in advantage and continued to show their quality as youngster Nikolai Zammit again showed his quality despite his age, scoring another four goals in this game.

A good start for Neptunes gave them a three-goal lead from a brace by Ken Erdogan and Niki Lanzon. Valletta reduced the gap twice but Neptunes finished the session 5-2 in front. Bogdan Rath's men stayed in the game as through their latest acquisition Andrea Bianchi, they scored twice but Neptunes were quick enough to score in both occasions to finish the session 7-4.

Valletta were determined not to let the game slip away and veteran Charlie Zammit scored in the first minute. Jeremy Abela scored from a man-up situation in the next action but a minute later Bianchi made it- 8-6.

Neptunes pressed their gas pedal and scored four consecutive goals from four differenti players in the second part of the session, and despite Bianchi's goal, Nikolai Zammit assured that his team start the last session with a more than comfortable 13-7 lead.

Valletta dominated the last session as they practically scored in every minute of the game to put Neptunes a bit under pressure for the final minutes of the game but the gap was large enough to see them through. They even had a man-up in the last minute after an exclusion for Sebi Stellini, but failed to capitalise as Neptunes controlled the final seconds for a hard-fought win.

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon (2), K. Erdogan (3), G. Pace (1), M. Castillo, J. Farrugia, S. Stellini, S. Busuttil, J. Abela (2), N. Zammit (4), I. Zammit, M. Azzopardi (1), B. Busuttil

Valletta: R. Sciortino, J. Spiteri Staines, A. Agius, C. Zammit (1), R. Mock (1), D. Paolella, M. Mifsud (2), N. Farrugia, M. Zammit (3), M. Lanzon, L. Gialanze, R. Bonnici, A. Bianchi (5)

Referees: Neville Mercieca, Mario Dalli

 

EXILES ELIA CATERERS           9
SAN ĠILJAN TUM INVEST       14
(1-2), (4-3), (2-5), (2-4)

A brilliant third session proved to be enough for holders San Ġiljan TUM Invest to beat Exiles Elia Caterers. Exiles proved their quality by reacting from a slow start to finish the second session in a draw, but failed to keep up their level as for the third consecutive game they finished the game empty handed.

Aurelien Cousin had to pull one back after San Ġiljan had opened up a double advantage. The second session was going back and forth until Cousin made it 4-4 with a minute and 13 seconds before the break. Galea put the Saints in front but Mark Fenech equalised again with their last action of the session.

Marko Orlovic's words during the break seemed to inspire his team as San Ġiljan closed the game in the first four minutes of the third session with five consecutive goals, three of them from penalties scored by Andreas Galea, Matthew Zammit and Dino Zammit.

Kurt Griscti scored a brace to cut the deficit but San Ġiljan regained their five-goal cushion in the opening of the last session, to control the game till the end with no difficulty.

Exiles: M. Castillo, C. Von Brockdorf, A. Magri, M. Stellini, T. Sullivan (1), S. Xerri de Caro, M. Fenech (1), K. Griscti (3), N. Paris, A. Cousin (3), B. Lanzon (1), P. Paris, S. Apap

San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, J. Portelli (2), B. Grech, K. Dowling, M. Zammit (6), B. Plumpton (3), C. Farrugia, T. Said, Da. Zammit (2), P. Fava, Di. Zammit, T. Micallef

Referees: Stefan Licari, Massimo Angileri

 

FIRST DIVISION

Ta' Xbiex v Birżebbuġa   6-11