The Winter League came to an end, with the final three matches, which put the final touches to the outcome of the two honours won, in the two divisions.

Premier League

Sliema Frank Salt     9     Neptunes Grimaldi     7

(2-2, 2-1, 3-1, 2-3)

After San Giljan’s overwhelming win over the Citizens, in the game before, Sliema needed just a drawn result to make sure of the league title, being on equal points with Neptunes. They went one better, and obtained their fifth straight victory, as they outwitted their adversaries, who gave a really quiet performance. Neptunes had Steve Camilleri to boost them, as usual, in their last encounter, against Sliema, which has now become an annual fixture, but he did not seem match fit. He had been nursing an injury for some time and was below par for his standards.

Sliema were a confident lot and though they conceded the first goal in the game, it was the only time that Neptunes were ahead as they spent the rest of the match chasing after their opponents. Sliema could also concede ten man-ups to their rivals, and not feel the burden, as Neptunes only converted three of them, whereas the new champions managed three goals in four extra player occasions.

Sliema have now won this honour eight times, reaching Neptunes on the same figure, and this means that, at least for another season, Sliema will be the only team to make a clean sweep of all four honours in a season, still being the only side to achieve such an honour in 1998. It was really five honours, as they went on to win the Team of the Year Award, in the national sportwriters sports people choices.

Back to the last match of the winter league. After going in front, Neptunes saw Sliema overturning the score, but they managed to draw level till the end of the opening session. Sliema were ahead once more, with Neptunes dragging themselves back another time, only for Mark Meli to put Sliema ahead with a thunderbolt, as did John Brownrigg, in the first session, for them. That had Sliema just ahead, at 4-3, till the interval.

Sliema consolidated their advantage after the break, with Neptunes' reply being a solitary goal to Sliema’s three. With Neptunes still wasteful on their man ups, Sliema could keep control, and when Neptunes got a goal back, Sliema always managed to regain their former advantage, and by the time Niki Lanzon squeezed home his team’s last goal, the time had all but wound down for Neptunes, and Sliema could could start to relish their first honour, a good omen for them in the summer matches to come.

After the match Sliema’s captain and his team mates, received their victory medals, and the winter league trophy, from the Hon. Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Chris Agius, the BOV Chief Officer, Peter Perotti, and the ASA president, Joe Caruana Curran. Rivalries will resume in a fortnight’s time, when the summer season will start.

Sliema: R. Coleiro , J. Gabarretta 1, N. Lubrano 2, T. Sullivan , M. Meli 1, J. Soler , J. Borg 1, C. Cluett 1, J. Brownrigg 3, A. Attard , A. Agius , N. Bugelli ,  K. Schembri

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole , N. Lanzon 2, G. Mizzi , M. Stellini 1, T. Agius 1, M. Lanzon , S. Camilleri , J. Camilleri 1, A. Zarb Cousin 1, L. Gialanze , K. Debattista , S. Xerri de Caro , C. Mercieca 1, B. Gougall

Referees: M. Angileri, P. Balzan

 

Saints canter home in sole third position

San Giljan Allcare     15     Valletta United     3

(4-1, 6-0, 3-1, 2-1)

The Saints did not have to exert themselves too much to hold on to their third position in the league table, pushing Valletta down into a fourth placing. The Citizens had given a good account of themselves in the other matches played before, but this time they were really rocked by a no-nonsense style of play by San Giljan, who had the game already in the bag by the interval. Valletta were not helped by circumstances, with two players, Michael Spiteri Staines, and captain, Clint Debono,  being ejected from the match, although the last one was only in the last minute of the encounter.

They also failed to convert a penalty throw, with Daniel Paolella shooting wide. The Saints also missed a penalty of their own, as the Valletta custodian, David Abela beat down Dino Zammit’s throw, but San Giljan could afford to make mistakes, being so much in front.

The same Zammit finished up as the game’s top scorer, with a poker of goals, and Karl Galea grabbed a hat trick for the winners.

It will be interesting to see how Valletta will fare in the top division this season, while the Saints, after narrowly missing the league title, will be expected to mount a stiff challenge again, this year.

San Giljan: D. Camilleri , C. Spiteri Debarro 1, A. Galea 1, K. Galea 3, K. Dowling 2, M. Zammit 2, Ke. Galea 1, A. Bianchi 1, P. Fava , D. Zammit 4, J. Sammut, Da. Zammit , K. Mock

Valletta: R. Sciortino , R. Mock 1, M. Spiteri Staines , M. Rizzo , N. Bonello Ghio , S. Cachia , M. Cordina , C. Zammit , C. Debono 1, R. Scerri , D. Paolella 1, J. Farrugia , D. Abela

Referees: A. De Raffaele, R. Spiteri

 

Final Standings

Sliema Frank Salt           5     5     0     0     57     32     15

Neptunes Emirates          5     4     0     1     58     37     12

San Giljan Allcare          5     3     0     2     48     30       9

Valletta United               5     2     0     3     31     46       6

Sirens Ritter Sport          5     0     1     4     32     52       1

Exiles Ferretti                 5     0     1     4     26     55       1