BOV National Premier League

San Giljan Giuseppe’s 13

Neptunes Emirates 12

(4-2, 4-3, 2-4, 3-3)

After San Giljan’s victory over Sliema, last week, this time it was the champions who experienced the same fate, as the Saints had the better of their close neighbours, with an odd goal win, to open up the league table.

San Giljan deserved their victory, having led for nearly the whole match.

They included their trump card once more, with Bogdan Rath playing vice Darko Brguljan, and they also had a favourable man up situation, with six goals from nine expulsions. Neptunes were wasteful, as they only converted twice from a total of eleven man ups.

The Saints set the pace in the first two sessions, obtaining a double lead in the first one, and then, as the champions recovered form a three goal deficit, to go just a goal behind, two late strikes had San Giljan again on an 8-5 advantage at the interval.

The champions returned after the break, and managed to draw level after some time, only to fall behind once more, from a Matthew Zammit bombshell. Before the end of the period Neptunes lost Tamas Molnar on a straight red card.

Nepyunes clawed their way back in the final session, and went in front for the first time in the match. It didn’t last long, as the Saints netted a three goal burst, with a couple of Rath specials.

Neptunes pulled a goal back, but lost their last possession, and San Giljan were high and dry.

Karl Galea, Boris Letica and Bogdan Rath all scored hat tricks for the Saints, and Neptunes had the reliable Steve Camilleri with a five goal tally, along with a hat trick from Niki Lanzon.

San Giljan: D. Camilleri, JC Cutajar , D. Abela, K. Galea 3, K. Dowling, M. Zammit 1, B. Letica 3, A. Bianchi 1, R. Mock, C. Gialanze, P. Fava, B. Rath 3, M. Pisani 2

Neptunes: I. Bugeja, N. Lanzon 3, E. Aquilina , M. Stellini 1, G. Pace , A. Ciric, S. Camilleri 5, J. Camilleri , B. Lanzon, S. Gravina 1, R. Sciortino, T. Molnar 2, C. Mercieca

Referees: M. Angileri, S. Scappini

BOV 1 Div. League

Ta Xbiex Amigos 15

Valletta Sterling 20

(4-4, 4-3, 3-7, 4-6)

In the first match between these two teams this season, it was Valletta with their second league win, which enhances their second place in the standings. The Citizens again had Edward Arrigo in goal, and, instead of Milos Korolija there was the return of David Zoltan, who celebrated with a total of eight goals.

Timmy Agius contributed with a poker of his own. Ta Xbiex had Laszlo Suranyi with a nap hand of goals, and Yuri Szeles scored four more.

The opening session ended all square, with Ta Xbiex just edging out Valletta at the interval, on an 8-7 score. The Citizens dominated after the break, as they turned the score around, to a 14-11 advantage, and in

the last session. Although tTa Xbiex stayed close for some time, the late stages of the encounter saw Valletta netting the last three goals of the match, for a confident finish.

Ta Xbiex converted four goals from a total of seven man ups, but the Citizens were much better, failing only a single expulsion in their favour, from eight occasions.

Ta Xbiex: L. Borg, J. Cremona , A. Galea 1, M. Asciak , L. Suranyi 5, C. Bugeja, K. Galea 1, S. Cini, C. Saliba, R. Attard 1, O. Zammit 3, Y. Szeles 4

Valletta: E. Arrigo, S. Meli 1, R. Calleja 1, A. Galea, T. Agius 4, S. Cachia 3, R. Kovacs 1, JC Farrugia ,M. Cordina 2, D. Zoltan 8, A. Arrigo, A. Sammut, K. Hyzler

Referees: A. DeRaffaele, S. Licari