Sirens Ritter Sport    9     Sliema Frank Salt     19

(2-4, 3-6, 2-3, 2-6)

It was Sliema’s third victory over Sirens this season, and with each win the score was more pronounced. The Blues won all four sessions of play, and continued to draw steadily away from their opponents throughout the match. They had three scoring protagonists to rely on, and despite the heavy man up situations against them, Sliema held out well, to control the proceedings as the game went on its way in their favour.

Sliema had John Brownrigg missing, with his place taken by Christian Cluett. Sirens opted to include Joe Cremona in goal once more, and it seems that their goalkeepers are being alternated. There was also georg Debono in their lineup.

The Blues went into a three goal advantage, with Jerome Gabarretta, Gergely Kiss and Nikolai Lubrano strikes, with Sirens then pulling two goals back, from Stephen Micallef and Csaba Kiss. Sliema’s Kiss then made it 4-2. In the second period Sliema kept pressing, and obtained goals by Kiss and damir Buric, before Sirena had David Cutajar with their third goal. Sliema ‘s lead increased with a trio of goals, by Soler, Kiss and Gabarretta, but Sirens came back with a brace of theri own , from Andrew Zarb Cousin, before Soler grabbed Sliema’s tenth gaol, for a 10-5 halftime advantage.

After the break Soler and Gabarretta continued on with Sliema’s tally, with Sirens’ Kiss scoring in between. Zak Mizzi netted another Sirens goal, and they failed to creep nearer, when Zarb Cousin’s penalty throw was saved by Ryan Coleiro, in Sliema’s goal. This keeper is making a habit of saving penalties.. Sliema had Edward aquiline with another goal, but they lost mark meli, ousted out of the match. With a session to go the score stood at 13-7 for the Blues. Mizzi netted his second for Sirens, but Sliema’s reply was another trio of goals, from Soler, Gabarretta and Kiss, before Lubrano was lost on fouls. Cutajar scored at the other end, for Sirens, but it was the Blues with the game’s last three strikes, from Gabarretta, twice, and Michael Spiteri Staines in between.

Sliema converted seven from ten man ups, and had Gabarreta with a double hat trick, Kiss with a nap hand and Soler with a poker of goals. For Sirens it was a laborious seven goals from a total of sixteen favourable expulsions, with four players getting double strikes.

Sirens: J. Cremona, Z. Mizzi 2, M. Grech , J. Napier , A. Babay , C. Kiss 2,

J.       Borg , D. Cutajar 2, A. Zarb Cousin 2, A. Attard , S. Micallef 1,

            G. Debono , A. Grech      

Sliema: R. Coleiro, D. Buric 1, N. Lubrano 1, T. Sullivan , M. Meli , J. Soler 4,     

              G. Kiss 5, E. Aquilina 1, C. Cluett , J. Gabarretta 6, D. Paolella ,                     

              M. Spiteri Staines 1, D. Abela

Refeees: P. Balzan, S. Scappini

Standings

         Neptunes Emirates           7     7     0     0   112     53   21

         San Giljan Sir Alex           7     6     0     1     98     83   18

         Sliema Frank Salt             8     4     0     4     96     87   12

         Sirens Ritter Sport            7     1     0     6     59   102     3

         Exiles Ferretti                   7     0     0     7     63   103     0

  BOV Summer League 1 Div.

Otters hold out for third league win

Otters Nivea     12     M’scala Mor€    11

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

It was a false step by M’scala in their chase after leaders, Valletta, hwo now have a good hold in the top position.. Otters avenged their first round defeat, as they opened up well, with a three goal Ivan Vuksanovic spread (he finished up with a good haul of eight goals). The Gozitans then saw M’scala come back strongly, to just a single goal deficit at the interval, at 6-7. M’scala overhauled their opponents after the break, but it was allsquare when the last quarter started, at 9-9. Otters’ next advantage was levelled by M’scala, by up came Christoff Martin with a brace of goals for the Gozitans, and although M’scala grabbed a goal back, it was not enough, and Otters held out for their third league win, which again puts them alongside ta Xbiex.

Otters had a total of nine man ups in their favour, in which they scored three times. M’scala, who had John Licari with a hat trick of goals, were seven times with an extra man in the water, scoring on three occasions.

Otters: N. Grixti, G. Attard , G. Zammit , S. Xerri , P. Sciberras , A. Cachia ,

            K. Scicluna , D. Schembri , A. Edward 1, S. Dimech , C. Martin 2,

           I. Vuksanovic 8, K. Grima Scott 1

M’scala: K. Schembri, J. Licari 3, M. Pace 1, B. Muscat , J. Kayes 2,

              L. Grixti 1, G. Hedegus 1, J. Cremona 1, G. Desira Buttigieg , A. Sammut 1,

              D. Cassar , C. Mifsud , L. Caruana 1

Referees: M. Dalli, R. Spiteri

Standings

                  Valletta United                7     6     0     1     97     61   18

                  M’scala Mor€                 8     5     0     3     89     88   15

                  Ta Xbiex Amigos            7     3     1     3     90     87   10

                   Otters Nivea                   7     3     1     3     66     79  10

                   Marsaxlokk                    7     0     0     7     69     96     0