Loyola pulled off a stunning victory and made their first ever final. It was a fantastic win for the Loyola ladies especially after suffering their third straight loss to Depiro just two days before being ousted from the Louis Borg Cup.

Depiro were a shadow of the side who only had suffered a first seasonal game loss and once they fell behind they had to chase elusive opponents for the rest of the match. Christin Grima could not be contained and Ruth Spiteri played a blinder as Loyola always had the measure of their opponents.

Christine Sammut was still missing for Depiro and Loyola had Abigail Sciberras still injured and Francesca Camilleri missing with Petra Montanaro back in the side.

Depiro made the better start with triples by Sarah Pace and Greta zarb an an 11-4 run. Grima was leading Loyola and till the end of the period they put in a 10-2 run to edge in front with Depiro in difficulties.

Loyola were still netting their hoops in the second session with an 8-0 run for a useful advantage. Depiro recovered briefly to cut down on their arrears but Loyola recovered once more with another 8-1 run and they held on to a good 32-20 lead at the interval.

After the break the points began to flow at both ends. A 7-2 Loyola run with a Spiteri triple had Depiro falling further back but it was Antoinette Borg who helped them to crawl nearer with her points and a triple.

Depiro’s other trey by Zarb was replied to and Loyola were 50-49 ahead after three sessions of play. Loyola obtained a better lead in the last period and depiro’s response was feeble. Loyola’s free throws decided the issue even though Francesca Bianco netted a triple for Depiro seconds before the final buzzer.

Depiro: 8 S. Pace, 10 G. Zarb, J. Xuereb, A. Mifsud, M. Bonett, 5 F. Bianco, J. Busuttil Gaerty, A. Borg, E. Vella, S. Micallef, 12 K. Agius

Loyola: 9 J. Doughty, F. Schembri, E. Falzon, M. Gatt, D. Said Hollier, 11 R. Spiteri, A. Bonanno, 25 C. Grima, K. Tonna, P. Montanaro, 4 SJ Barbara, 12 K. Gouder

Referees: E. Mangani, C. Terribile