Ta Xbiex Amigos     5     Sliema Frank Salt     25

(1-7, 1-5, 1-6, 2-6)

 

Sliema had an easy time against Ta Xbiex, as they peppered their opponents’ goal, to register the biggest score yet, after Neptunes’ feat, just three days ago. Sliema left their American, Tim Hutten, on the bench, but he was not missed, as Ta Xbiex were subjected to intense pressure throughout all the four sessions of play. Ta Xbiex had a change in their foreigners’ ranks, with the Russian, Peter Markoch again taking his place, as he did last season, instead of the Montenegro player, Philip Tenzera.

Sliema could exert their superiority at all times, with John Soler netting six goals in the process, with Antonio Petkovic also getting a nap hand of strikes, and John Brownrigg had a poker of goals, including a last second on, from a long distance, at the end of the encounter. The Ta Xbiex tally was mainly obtained from their Serbian, Milos Maksimovic.

Ta Xbiex: L. Borg, L. Pace , M. Camilleri , S. Aquilina , J. Cauchi , K. Mock , S. Gravina , M. Agius 1, E. Gravina, M. Maksimovic 4, R. Attard ,O. Zammit , P. Markoch

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 3, N. Lubrano 1, T. Sullivan 2, M. Meli 2, J. Soler 6, J. Borg , C. Cluett 1, J. Brownrigg 4, N. Bugelli 1, T. Hutten, A. Petkovic 5, K. Schembri

Referees: R. Spiteri, P. Giordano

 

Neptunes Grimaldi     18     Valletta McDonalds     9

(2-2, 6-4, 7-1, 3-2)

The game was decided after the interval, as until then Valletta gave a very good account of themselves, and were very much in the game. They were in front three times, before they had to succumb to a four goal Neptunes spell, before the Citizens struck back, till the interval, to go to within two goals of their opponents, at 6-8.

After the break it was a completely different situation, with Neptunes forging further in front, and Valletta were unable to keep up the pace, as they faded away, with the champions sealing their victory by the end of the third session. Neptunes continued to increase their lead, before two late Michael Rizzo strikes pushed up the Citizens’ tally to a more respectable one. Once more Neptunes opted to keep their Hungarian, Peter Biros, on the bench, for the third match running.

Neptunes were positive in their man ups, getting four goals from six occasions, but not so Valletta, who failed to find their opponents’ net from five man ups. Tamas Molnar grabbed five goals for the champions, with Michele Stellini on four more, and the Camilleri brothers netting a hat trick each. Rizzo’s late strikes gave the Valletta player his hat trick.

One of the match officials was the Irishman, Kirk Denver, who will be controlling more games this week. 

Neptunes:  A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 2,  M. Lanzon , M. Stellini 4, T. Agius , M. Zammit , S. Camilleri 3, J. Camilleri 3, A. Zarb Cousin , P. Biros , B. Dougall , T. Molnar 5, C. Mercieca 1

Valletta: R. Sciortino, R. Mock , M. Spiteri Staines , M. Korolija 1, D. Abela , S. Cachia , M. Cordina 1, C. Zammit 1, C. Debono , R. Scerri , D. Paolella 1, D. Filipovic 2, M. Rizzo 3

Referees: A. DeRaffaele, K. Denver