Valletta Sterling 12

Otters Nivea 8

(1-1. 2-2, 4-2, 5-3)

Valletta made their way into the final the hard way, losing their first match, before winning the next two. In this third match they had coach. Anthony Farrugia, suspended, with Aldo Scerri taking his place, and Sean Meli was also suspended.

It was a well balanced game at first, with Valletta going in front three times, and the Gozitans each time pulling back to level terms.

At the interval it was all square, at 3-3. After the break the Citizens began to pull away, ably led by a sterling performance from Timmy Agius, who grabbed a double hat trick.

After three sessions of play Valleta were on a double advantage, and they made sure in the final period, when they added on thre more goals, before Otters could put in their reply.

It was all over by then, and Valletta could coast

through the rest of the encounter, keeping their opponents in check.

Besides Agius’ six goals there were three more from David Zoltan, whilst the Gozitans had John Paris also with a hat trick.

The first game in the final, a best of three, will be played next Saturday.

Valletta: A. Sammut, JC Farrugia, R. Calleja, An. Galea, T. Agius 6, S. Cachia, Al. Galea, M. Cordina 1, R. Kovacs 2, D, Zoltan 3, A. Arrigo, E. Arrigo, K. Hyzler

Otters: A. Cachia, G. Attard, G. Zammit 1, D. Angyal 1, S. Dimech, M. Balatoni 1, J. Paris 3, D. Schembri 2, E. Farrugia, K. Debattista, C. Martin, K. Scicluna, K. Grima Scott

Referees: I. Sciriha, P. Giordano