Premier League
Sirens Ritter Sport 10
San Giljan Sir Alex 17 (3-3, 2-5, 2-4, 3-5)
San Giljan went to within three points of leaders Neptunes after a no-nonsense victory over plucky Sirens. The Saints were a well-drilled outfit, and except for a hiccup in the opening period, when Sirens came back from three goals down, San Giljan were in command, and their lead was constant. They relied heavily on their foreigners in the goals scored, although two Maltese also obtained hat tricks.
This was the first official match for Sergio Afric at the helm of the Saints. Sirens were missing Alex Attard, and they kept harassing their adversaries for a long time, before they began to fall behind, against superior opposition.
San Giljan ran into a 3-0 advantage, with go0als from Marko Avramovic and two by Peter Biros, but Sirens came back strongly till the end of the session to tie the score, with Csaba Kiss, Jurgen Borg and David Cutajar strikes. In the next quarter the Saints obtained a trio of goals once more, with Karl Galea, Biros and an Avramovic penalty.
Marc Grech reduced Sirens’ deficit, but Christian Gialanze pushed in the Saints’ next goal. Kiss scored another Sirens goal, but Matthew Zammit made the score 8-5 for San Giljan before the interval. After the break Sirens began to feel the strain. Penalties at either end started off the scoring, with Arpad Babay for Sirens and Biros for the Saints. Zak Mizzi put in a rebound for Sirens, but then San Giljan strode forward, and another trio of strikes by Zammit, Biros and Avramovic had them on a healthy 12-7 advantage, when the last session began.
Galea and Avramovic goals for San Giljan had replies from Kiss and Cutajar for Sirens. Galea and a sixth Biros goal had the Saints extending their lead, but Kiss scored his fourth for Sirens. A powerful Zammit backhand closed down the score for San Giljan as they gained three more points. The Saints were strong in their man ups, scoring a total of eight from ten, with Sirens’ reply having three goals from eight expulsions.
Sirens: A. Grech, Z. Mizzi 1, M. Grech 1, J. Napier , A. Babay 1, C. Kiss 4, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar 2, A. Zarb Cousin , G. Merten , S. Micallef, J. Zampa , J. Cremona
San Giljan: D. Camilleri, JC Cutajar , C. Gialanze 1, K. Galea 3, K. Dowl- ing, M. Zammit 3, M. Avramovic 4, A. Bianchi, C. Spiteri de Barro, P. Biros 6, P. Fava , D. Zammit , J. Sam- mut Referees: P. Balzan, L. Castagnolo.
First division
Valletta again alone at the top
Valletta United 13 Marsaxlokk 9 (1-3, 5-2, 3-2, 4-2)
Valletta made the top of the table their own with a solid win over bottom side, Marsaxlokk, who still provide good opposition to every team they play against. The Citizens made an in- different start, and were in arrears after the opening session, but from then on they dictated the play, and ex- cept for another small blip, they were in front, with Marsaxlokk having to chase hard. Valletta had their second goalie, Zach Sciberras, missing, and Gordon Zammit was absent for Marsaxlokk. The Seasiders were actually 3-1 in front after the first period, but Valletta overturned the score, only for Marsaxlokk to grab another lead. By
the interval Valletta were leading 6-5. This lead began to open up after the break, despite more Marsaxlokk goals, and in the last quarter the Citi- zens made doubly sure, as they eased away from their opponents, to end the match on a better advantage. Djorde Filipovic and Clint Debono scored pokers for the Citizens, with Milos Korolija on a hat trick. Kurt Mock obtained three goals for Marsaxlokk. Valletta had five man ups in their favour, scoring on three occasions, with M’xlokk finding the back of the net twice, from three ex- pulsions. Valletta: R. Sciortino, S. Meli 1, R. Calleja, M. Korolija 3, N. Bonello Ghio, S. Cachia 1, M. Cordina , C. Za- mmit , C. Debono 4, R. Scerri, A. Ar- rigo , D. Filipov 4, J. Farrugia Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, M. Grima , M. Agius, E. Meli 2, K. Grech 1, K. Mock 3, A. Galea , C. Bugeja 1, R. Kovacs 1, P. Kovacs 1, T. Camilleri, J. Fenech , L. Friggieri Referees: A. De Raffaele, M. Angi- leri