Sirens kept on the winning trail, against a subdued Exiles outfit, who were but a shadow of the side who had troubled champions, Neptunes, so much, in their first match.
Sirens' positive start, with a 5-1 first session lead, augured well, as they they could then keep control of the game throughout, always a safe distance ahead of their opponents.
Hat tricks were registered by three Sirens players, David Cutajar, for the second time running, as did Arpad Babay, and Hungarian compatriot Attila Balany, also netted three times. Veteran, Anthony Galea, also put in a brace of goals for Sirens. Exiles' Aurelien Cousin was the game's top scorer, with four goals, starting off, and finishing his team's scoring. The other Frenchman, Romain Blari, had a quieter match, registering a single goal, late in the game.
Both teams shared the spoils in the man-up situations, with both sides managing to score on two from six occasions
After surging 3-0 in front Sirens held off their adversaries, and it was only in the last quarter, that Exiles could make any impression on the St. Pauls Bay defence.
Exiles managed to win the last session, but this did not make any difference to the final score, as Sirens had already made sure halfway through the match.
Sirens were under the guidance of Italian coach, Marco Baldinetti, who took over from interim coach, Dejan Simeonovic.
Sirens: A. Grech, R. Mock, 2 A. Galea, 3 A. Babay, 3 A. Barany, J. Borg, 3 D. Cutajar, A. Attard, R. Scerri, 1 C. Mercieca, P. Borg, J. Sammut
Exiles: A. Borg Cole, 1 J. Rizzo Naudi, A. Arrigo, D. Pace Lupi, 1 T. Sullivan, 1 R. Blari, 1 M. Rizzo, K. Grixti, A. Zarb Cousin, 4 A. Cousin, K. Enriquez, S. Vassallo, M. Calleja
Referees: M. Dalli, I. Sciriha
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San Giljan TJ 13
Ta Xbiex MP 11
(2-2)(4-3)(3-1)(4-5)
Under the guidance of assistant coach, John Xerri de Caro, who refrained from entering the water, San Giljan made heavy weather in beating a sprightly Ta Xbiex side, who gave as much as they got for most of the match, and who also had a good ending, to finish up only two goals behind more quoted opponents.
San Giljan had to rely on their foreign imports, especially Serbian, Vladimir Kreckovic, who made his mark as Ta Xbiex seemed to tire out in the final period. Andrea Bianchi also managed to obtain a hat trick, whilst Matthew Zammit was closely shadowed throughout the match, and did not make his usual impact.
Ta Xbiex's two foreigners, veteran Roman Polacik and Jan Surim, from Slovakia, gave their side a better balance, and other teams must now keep their eyes open when encountering Ta Xbiex in future matches.
Three consecutive goals in the thrid session helped the Saints to a 9-6 lead, and they held off their opponents in the final quarter, as they opened up their advantage, only for Ta Xbiex to close the gap with two goals in the finals moments of the game.
Besides Polacik's three goals, ta Xbiex had a trio of players scoring doubles, Surim, Charles Zammit and Doirian Pisani.
The losers' failure was their man down occasions, as San Giljan made full use of an extra player in the pitch, scoring on all their five instances, whilst Ta Xbiex managed three goals from six sending offs.
San Giljan: D. Camilleri, 2 C. Spiteri de Barro, 2 R. Gospodinov, E. Arrigo, 3 A. Bianchi, 2 M. Zammit, M. Pace, 3 V. Kreckovic, K. Grech, A. Borda, P. Fava, J. Xerri de Caro, 1 K. Lanzon
Ta Xbiex: A. Bianchi, J. Tabone, 1 M. Manara, K. Sciortino, K. Engerer, W. Privitera, P. Paolella, 3 R. Polacik, 1 T. Debono, 2 C. Zammit, 2 J. Surim, A. Tanti, 2 D. Pisani
Referees: P. Balzan, M. Angileri
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Today’s Programme
National Pool Tal-Qroqq:
5.30pm Marsascala Ocean & Sky-Neptunes Vodafone
6.30pm:Sliema McDonald’s-Marsaxlokk Freeport