San Giljan Z 11

Marsaxlokk FP 10

(4-3, 3-2, 3-3, 1-2)

This match ended with the slightest of margins with as Marsaxlokk came very close to win their first points in the season. They had an opportunity of a 3 v 2 break in the final seconds but missed this opportunity.

With their coach W. Debono suspended, the southerners opened an early 3-1 lead with a Frolov brace but the Saints duly replied to go 7-5 ahead midway into the game with a Claudio Spiteri de Barro hat-trick in the second session.

San Giljan, having Matthew Zammit missing and with Keith Schembri defending the goal for the whole match, had veterans Ian Azzopardi and Anthony Galea fouled-out in the third session. Although Marsaxlokk made it a one-goal game, 7-6, after an early Ramon Calleja goal on man-up, the Saints managed to show their mettle and registered a maximum lead, 10-7, with Marko Cuk and John Xerri de Caro sharing the goals.

With both foreigners grabbing a personal poker, the game went in the final stages with M’Xlokk missing their last chance.

San Giljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro 3, A. Galea, C. Bonello, I. Azzopardi, M. Cuk 4, K. Schembri, M. Pace, J. Bonnici, R. Scerri, S. Borg 1, J. Xerri de Caro 2, K. Lanzon 1.

M’Xlokk: R. Bonnici, S. Cachia 1, R. Calleja 1, A. Farrugia 1, D. Debono, C. Bugeja 1, E. Pisani, S. Cutajar, S. Frolov 4, F. Testa 1, D. Cassar, J. Vella 1, K. Grima Scott.

Refs: M. Dalli, A. Farrugia

Exiles RMF 16

Ta’ Xbiex MP 11

(2-0, 5-3, 6-5, 3-3)

Exiles registered a fine win over Ta’ Xbiex, a team in some high morale after last week’s success over M’xlokk.

The Sliema side, having Gerber Silvis and John Paris in fine form, opened a healthy 5-0 lead after 11 minutes of play and then administered the proceedings of the remaining 21 minutes with Ta’ Xbiex, who had Karl Rizzo Naudi missing, having the opportunity to have some good moments with Van Oost breaking the team’s goal drought after 12 minutes.

The third session contained an impressive 11 goal tally shared almost equally between these two sides with locals Sean Gravina and Timmy Sullivan (Exiles) and Dorian Pisani (Ta’ Xbiex) grabbing personal braces whilst Paris registered his poker to emulate foreign team-mate Silvis.

There was also balance in the water during the final session with Exiles always comfortably ahead. Martin Calleja scored two consecutive gaols to register his hat-trick with Belgian Tim Van Oost doing the same on the opposite end.

Exiles: N. Imbroll, J. Cuschieri, M. Zarb, D. Pace Lupi, T. Sullivan 2, G. Desira Buttigieg, J. Paris 4, J. Cremona 1, J. Tabone, S. Gravina 2, G. Silvis 4, A. Arrigo, M. Calleja 3.

Ta’ Xbiex: A. Tanti, G. Attard 1, D. Dowling, T. Boyd, C. D’Ugo, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, C. Saliba, D. Schembri 2, P. Paolella 2, T. Van Oost 3, C. Sciortino, S. Balzan, D. Pisani 2.

Refs: A. Deraffaele, M. Caruana