Sliema McDonalds 6

Sirens 6

(1-1, 1-2, 0-1, 4-2)

A goal by Michael Rizzo two seconds from the end closed this game at a par, the first draw of the season, with Sirens surely kicking themselves for letting a two-goal lead slip away.

The two sides were very wary of each other from the initial swim-up and defensive covering was the main characteristic of this game.

In fact Sirens (who play San Giljan next week and knew well that a win against Sliema would put them two points ahead at the top of the table and would have needed a single point to win the league) were 6-4 ahead four minutes from the end and were always in the lead with Sliema only managing to equalise at 1-1 and 2-2 earlier on. David Cutajar scored a hat-trick for Pierre Borg’s side in the match.

Although Sliema reduced the margin with Edward Aquilina’s brace two minutes from time, the Blues looked to lose their psychological stance when the same Aquilina and hat-trick getter John Soler were excluded for good a minute later.

However Rizzo salvaged the game, also officiated by the same referees as the same round, and also their title’s hopes with his goal almost at the stroke of time.

Sliema: J. Cachia, C. Gialanze, E. Aquilina 2, M. Rizzo 1, M. Meli, J. Soler 3, D. Paolella, S.Meli, C. Debono, F. Cutajar, J. Gabaretta, J. Spiteri Staines, A. Bianchi, R. Coleiro. Sirens: A. Grech, P. Fava, K. Rizzo Naudi, P. Privitera 1, J. Rizzo Naudi, E. Bonello, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar 3, K. Montfort, C. Zammit 1, C. Mercieca, R. Attard, J. Sammut.

Refs:M. Dalli, A. Deraffaele

Neptunes Vodafone 20

San Giljan Zara 7

(4-1, 6-2, 6-3, 4-1 )

Neptunes obtained a merited win over neighbours San Giljan (who were missing their top scorer Matthew Zammit and also had Xerri de Caro excluded definitely in the second session) thus also registering their league double over the Saints as well as the biggest win so far this season.

Similar to the first round encounter (won 13-4 by the Reds and also having the same officials), Neptunes opened a three-goal lead by the end of the first session. Midway into the game they had a healthy 10-3 and the last two sessions were merely a formality with Neptunes, similar to the second session, scoring another six in the third session with Steve Camilleri closing the game with seven goals of his own to make it 11 in two matches against San Giljan.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon, J. Camilleri, K. Galea 4, T. Agius, J. Brownrigg, S. Camilleri 7, G. Sammut 2, D. Camilleri 1, S. Gravina 2, R. Sciortino, M. Stellini 2, M. Pisani 2, D. Caruana, L. Attard

San Giljan:K. Schembri, C. Spiteri de Barro, A. Galea 3, C. Bonello, M. Pace 1, M. Zammit, G. Toth 1, J. Bonnici, M. Miggiani 1, D. Camilleri, S. Borg, J. Xerri de Caro, K. Lanzon 1.

Refs: P. Balzan, M. Caruana