Starlites did the double over the bottom team and once more there was no large advantage at the end of the match.

Mtarfa played their part especially with the good number of triples converted in their favour. Starlites kept a good grip on the proceedings for most of the game to claim their second league victory.

For Starlites Amanda Farrugia was back but Claire Scicluna was missing. Mtarfa were without Adriana Demanuele and Carla Marie Vella but recovered Graziella Santillo.

Starlites made a positive start as they built up an 10-1 advantage with Christine Scicluna and Marilou Cutajar points. They were stopped by two Martha Abela triples but in between Starlites netted two more hoops for a useful first session lead.

In the second period Starlites put in another 7-0 run with a Lara Pisani trey but Mtarfa suddenly were galvanized and a 9-0 run took them close to their adversaries. They were stopped by a second Pisani triple and at the interval Starlites led 24-17.

After the break Starlites suffered a Gaby Mifsud triple but once more came up with a 7-2 run to extend their lead. Mtarfa relied on their triples again as Abela and Mifsud netted theirs in an 8-0 run going to just a point behind.

Starlites recovered with a third Pisani triple in a 7-0 run for a 38-30 lead. In the final session despite other triples by Mifsud and Nicola Said Mtarfa couldn’t get any nearer as Starlites kept on replying to points against them and their lead remained constant.

Starlites: A. Farrugia, 1 C. Riolo, 5 A. Grixti, S. Tabone, 11 L. Pisani, C. Spiteri, 4 L. Pirotta, N. Attard, MC Cilia, 11 C. Scicluna, 18 M. Cutajar

Mtarfa: 12 M. Abela, M. Azzopardi, Y. Muscat, 10 C. Gauci Meilak, R. Sammut, M. Agius, 7 N. Said, 4 G. Santillo, M. Scicluna, 11 G. Mifsud

Referees: E. Mangani, R. Darmanin