No difficulty for the Violets to regain their top position alongside Depiro with their fourth straight win over their opponents.

Starlites replied to Luxol’s opening hoop with a Charlotte Riolo triple. The Violets’ answer was a good 12-0 run to take the first real lead and they followed up with a Beverlee Zammit triple to take a double figure advantage.

In the second period Luxol’s 11-2 opening run had them well clear before Ariana Grixti went on court for Starlites and put in her points. The Violets also had their share and at the interval they were leading 34-16.

After the break it was free throws for Steffi De Martino for Luxol in a 7-0 rum but Loyola had Samantha Tabone in a good shooting mood and her side netted a solid 12-2 run. The Violets were still holding on to a good 49-35 lead with a period to go.

The last quarter belonged to Luxol and Starlites were limited to a lone Lara Pisani triple whilst De martino increased her tally in a hefty 19-3 run. Two Starlites’ late hoops were followed by a last second De Martino trey.

Luxol: 10 M. Sciortino, 10 L. Serge, 2 B. Naudi, 27 S. De Martino, 2 J. Carbonell, 10 P. Ellul, 5 D. Muscat, 5 B. Zammit

Starlites: 5 C. Riolo, 4 A. Grixti, 11 S. Tabone, 3 L. Pisani, C. Spiteri, 8 L. Pirotta, 4 N. Attard, 2 MC Cilia, 2 C. Scicluna, 3 M. Cutajar

Referees: E. Mangani, J. Mangani

McDonalds Depiro 93

Alyssa Ashley Loyola 37

(32-7)(15-6)(25-12)(21-12)

Depiro had a big bone to pick against Loyola after being ousted from the Shield just five days before. It was really Depiro’s fourth victory in five matches against their opponents but that defeat rankled them badly. The win puts Depiro as sole leaders but with amatch more than Luxol.

Loyola were up against it from the start as Kaila Agius dominated under the boards and Greta Zarb netted an early triple in a bright 14-1 beginning. Depiro did not stop there and put more distance between the two sides. In the second session Depiro were still in full control but not so prolific in points as before. Sarah Pace also sank a triple as her team obtained a heavy 47-13 advantage at the interval.

After the break Loyola responded to the first Depiro hoops but then they fell prey to another Depiro run at 16-0 ending with an Antoinette Borg trey. Loyola ended the period better but they were fully 25-72 behind after three sessions. Depiro’s bench players played their part putting in their names on the scoresheet and Loyola also took the opportunity to hike up their score till the end of the sncounter as Depiro made partial amends for their still fresh lapse.

Depiro: 7 S. Pace, 10 G. Zarb, J. Xuereb, 7 A. Mifsud, 6 M. Bonett, 7 F. Bianco, 15 A. Borg, 6 J. Busuttil Gaerty, E. Vella, 5 S. Micallef, 30 K. Agius

Loyola: 1 J. Doughty, 2 F. Schembri, E. Falzon, 4 M. Gatt, 6 D. Said Hollier, 8 A. Bonanno, P. Montanaro, 4 K. Tonna, 2 F. Camilleri, 6 SJ Barbara, 4 K. Gouder

Referees: C. Terribile, B. Sly

Hibs Medsea 47

Athleta 28

(10-2)(4-6)(16-6)(17-14)

Hibs did the double over Athleta keeping just behind the league leaders. The Paolites were wasteful for most of the match and Athleta could keep track till the interval. After that some Hibs direct play had the opposing defence in trouble and the champions could stroll through the rest of the match sure of the result.

All of the Paolites’ initial efforts failed to hit their mark as Leanne Sciberras netted for Athleta. It was her side’s only hoop as Caroline Schiavone went on court for Hibs and started them off on a 10-0 run with a contribution from Kirsten Baldacchino.

The only positive note in the second session was the entry of Maria Desira for the champions after nine months of absence through injury. She also netted her first hoops as her side struggled with Athleta pulling points back for a very low 8-14 adverse score at the interval.

The Paolites picked up a little after the break beginning with a three hoop spread.

Athleta managed a reply but Hibs came up with a 7-0 run late in the period to open up a 30-14 advantage with a session to go.

Athleta had Chantelle Mifsud with her points in a pull back but the champions then put in a 9-0 run as they broke well clear. Later on it was Lucienne Bezzina with a triple for the champions and Sciberras replied likewise with two more Azzoaprdi Duca hoops.

Hibs: 4 E. Micallef, 1 E. Cassar, M. Zammit, 10 L. Bezzina, F. Tabone, 4 M. Desira, 2 N. Arrigo, 10 K. Baldacchino, 10 J. Cardona, 6 C. Sciavone

Athleta: R. Sciberras, 2 L. Calleja, 11 L. Sciberras, 4 M. Azzopardi Duca, G. Muscat, D. McKeon, 2 F. Farrugia, 2 K. Busuttil, 3 C. Mifsud

Referees: A. Carbonaro, B, Sly

Guzelpinar Mtarfa 42

St Andrews 60

(6-14)(15-14)(11-20)(10-12)

St Andrews gained their third league win and second victory over Mtarfa as they led from start to finish. Mtarfa came close once after the break but they were rudely jolted with a strong Saints’ run which practically killed off the match .

The Saints went in an opening 10-0 run with a Josette Calleja triple. Mtarfa got into the match and drew nearer with Carina Gauci Meilak points but St Andrews were still in front.

In the second session Mtarfa’s hoops saw the saints replying and even increased their advantage until Martha Abela netted a triple for Mtarfa and Gauci Meilak again helped with her points. At the interval the Saints held a 28-21 lead.

After the break, Mtarfa were back after a Gauci Meilak triple to three points behind but then they were hit badly as the Saints slammed in a solid 18-0 run mostly Madeleine De Martino points.

Mtarfa picked up a little but they were 32-48 down before the final quarter. The Saints could keep a hold on the game with a good lead behind them even if Mtarfa put in an 8-1 run. Then St Andrews managed to extend their lead a little bit more till the end.

Mtarfa: 7 M. Abela, M. Agius, Y. Muscat, 17 C. Gauci Meilak, M. Azzopardi, R. Sammut, N. Said, 4 CM Vella, 4 F. Borg, M. Scicluna, 6 G. Mifsud, 4 A. Demanuele

St Andrews: R. De Martino, 4 N. Cassar, 14 J. Calleja, N. Scicluna, 8 R. Magro, M. Caruana, 10 J. Mangion, 4 Mar. De Martino, 15 M. De Martino

Referees: B. Sly, J. Mangani

Standings

After all teams have played nine matches, McDonalds Depiro and Luxol lead the standings on 17 points each. They are followed by Hibs Medsea on 16, Alyssa Ashley Loyola on 14, Athleta 13, St Andrews 12, Starlites Sports Experience 10 and Guzelpinar Mtarfa 9.