M’skala bounced back from their first game defeat, to force a deciding rubber, scheduled for next Friday, before the Neptunes-Sliema encounter.

M’skala had the better of their adversaries at the start, opening up a three goal cushion, after the first period. The Citizens were not daunted, and by the interval they had drawn level, on a 4-4 score. M’skala were back in front, after the break, and produced another two goal run, to start the last session on top. Valletta twice went to a goal behind, but they couldn’t make the breakthrough, and take the game into extra time, leaving M’skala with a second bite at the cherry.

Valletta only scored once, in five man ups, whilst M’skala had an extra player on seven occasions, converting two of them. All Valletta’s goals came from different players. Milos Koralji had a poker of goals for the winners.

Valletta A. Sammut, G. Sammut 1, A. di Somma, C. Bonello 1, R. Munkascy 1, S. Cachia, A. Galea, K. Micallef, T. Agius 1, S. Cini 1, A. Arrigo, G. Ghirxi 1, JC Farrugia

M’skala E. Arrigo, C. Spiteri de Barro, M. Pace, Mil. Koralji 4, S. Farrugia, D. Caruana, J. Licari, J. Cremona, S. Micallef, R. Scerri 2, D. Cassar, O. Zammit, Mih. Koralji

Referees I. Sciriha, S. Pinato