Premier League
Sliema Frank Salt 23
Exiles Ferretti 11
(6-2, 7-3, 2-4, 8-2)
It was a romp for Sliema, as they geared up for next Tuesday’s K.O. final. They still had a feisty outfit in Exiles, despite their lowly position. Sliema’s shooting prowess was evident, as they opened up a hefty advantage till the interval. Exiles had their moment too, after the break, but Sliema then turned on the throttle once more, to open up their lead once again, till the end. Sliema were awarded five penalties throughout the encounter, all converted.It was Sliema’s third victory over Exiles this season, with their score escalating from game to game.
It was Exiles who opened the scoring, from Alex Radovic, but then his side was hit with a five- goal blitz, as Jerome Gabarretta scored twice in succession, with a Gergely Kiss penalty. Mark Meli and Damir Buric following up.
Vojoslav Cupic halted the Sliema surge, with his strike, and Gabarretta scored again before the end of the session for Sliema. In the next period Sliema struck heavily again, with another four goal surge, by John Brownrigg, Buric, Edwaard Aquilina and Brownrigg once more. Kurt Grixti then netted for Exiles but Sliema were knocking again at the other end, with a John Soler penalty. Then it was Aquilina with a brace, the second from a penalty throw. Exiles mustered up some positive play, to score twice before the interval, both from Radovic, for a 13-5 score.
After the break Sliema put in David Abela in goal, in lieu of the ever improving Ryan Coleiro. Exiles were not done yet as they put in another three goals, two from Peter Borg, with a Cupic goal in between. Sliema then got going again as Meli and a Kiss penalty added on two more strikes, but Cupic managed another goal in between for a 15-9 score before the end of the session.
Sliema were rampant again, as Kiss, Meli and Soler all netted, before David Pace Lupi scored another for Exiles. Then it was Sliema once more, with three more goals, from Buric, a Gabarretta penalty and Soler.
Simon Vassallo put his name on the Exiles’ scoresheet, before Sliema closed down the match with two more goals, from Brownrigg and Michael Spiteri Staines.
Sliema profited from their man ups, scoring four from five occasions. Gabarretta grabbed a poker of goals, with a spate of hat tricks, from Buric, Meli, Soler, Kiss, Aquilina and Brownrigg. Exiles scored twice from their eight man ups, and their foreigners, Radovic and Cupic also netted hat tricks.
Sliema: R. Coleiro, D. Buric 3, N. Lubrano , T. Sullivan , M. Meli 3, J. Soler 3, G. Kiss 3, E. Aquilina 3, J. Brownrigg 3, J. Gabarretta 4, D. Paolella , M. Spiteri Staines 1, D. Abela
Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi , S. Vassallo 1, D. Zammit Lupi 1, N. Portelli , A. Radovic 3, J. Spiteri Staines, V. Cupic 3, K. Grixti 1, P. Borg 2, S. Galea Pace , D. Borg , K. Lanzon
Referees: A. DeRaffaele, G. Fusco
Division 1
M’scala Mor€ 21
Marsaxlokk 10
(7-2, 3-3, 6-1, 5-4)
M’scala are practically sure of their second position in the standings, after their third victory over M’xlokk, in another high scoring match. M’scala subjected M’xlokk to a heavy punishment in the opening and their sessions of play, with the losers putting up more spirited resistance in the other two periods. Charles Bugeja was missing for M’xlokk in this encounter.
M’scala, who netted three times in their six man ups, had Joseph kayes with a double hat trick, and Karl Rizzo Naudi and Gabor Hegedus both on four goals. M’xlokk were on target in two of their extra player occasions, and Edward Meli managed a nap hand of goals, four of them in the final session.
M’scala: K. Schembri, K. Rizzo Naudi 4, M. Pace , B. Muscat , J. Kayes, L. Grixti 2, J. Licari 1, J. Cremona , G. Hedegus 4, A. Sammut 1, D. Cassar 1, C. Mifsud , L. Caruana 2
M’xlokk: M. Scerri, L. Friggieri 1, M. Agius , E. Meli 5, K. Grech 1, K. Mock , A. Galea , R. Kovacs 1, P. Kovacs 2, T. Camilleri 1, J. Fenech
Referees: R. Spiteri, P. Giordano