Valletta McDonalds 16 M’scala Mor€ 8
(3-2, 5-2, 7-2, 1-2)
Valletta gained a handsome victory, to make sure of a place in the Premier League, as they wore away their opponents for three sessions, and then eased off in the final one.The Citizens were always in front, and they put the screws on their adversaries in the middle two sessions, as they left M’scala behind. The latter side opted to play the Hungarian, Arpad Babay, instead of the Spaniard, Sergi Mora. They stayed in contention in teh opening session, then fell further behind, although they replied with a brace of strikes. At the interval the Citizens led 8-4, and then made sure in the latter part of the third period, scoring five goals in succession, to draw away, at 15-6. The last session was just a formality.
Valletta, netting twice from five man ups, had Milos Korolija on a poker of goals and Michael Rizzo netted three more. M’scala, woeful in man ups, with a single goal in seven occasions, were well served by Gergo Marnitz, who scored a total of six goals.
Valletta: R. Sciortino, R. Mock , M. Spiteri Staines 2, M. Korolija 4, D. Abela ,S. Cachia , M. Cordina 1, C. Zammit 2, C. Debono 1, R. Scerri 1, D. Paolella, D. Filipovic 2, M. Rizzo 3
M’scala: D. Spiteri, JC Cutajar 1, A. Babay , C. Bonello , E. Meli , L. Grixti , M. Pace , J. Cremona 1, S. Micallef , C. Mifsud , D. Cassar, G. Marnitz 6,J. Cremona
Referees: P. Balzan, F. Romolini
Grand comeback earns Sliema a tie
Sliema Frank Salt 14 Neptunes Grimaldi 14
(1-2, 3-8, 4-1, 6-3)
It was actually two comebacks. Sliema seemed down and out at the interval, falling heavily behind, but they picked themselves up, to draw level in the final quarter, only to fall three more goals in arrears. In the short time left they dug deep, to rally back, and deny Neptunes a victory.
Sliema had a new face, Ivan Basara, from Serbia, in lieu of the American, Tim Hutten. Neptunes had Peter Biros taking to the water, after missing the other three group matches, and he excelled in the second session, with a nap hand of goals.
Neptunes took a double lead, only to be pegged back a goal by Sliema, in the opening session. Sliema twice were on even terms in the second period, but then Neptunes let loose, as they netted no less than seven times to Sliema’s solitary strike, as Biros slammed in his goals. Neptunes were riding high, at 10-4, at the interval, and it looked all over.
Sliema griited their teeth, and started to cut down on their formidable deficit. They halved this by the end of the third session, on an 8-11 score, then rocked the champions with three more goals in the last session, to make it an even score. Neptunes took over, after this scare, to net three goals in reply, to lay claim to their victory, but Sliema, with little time left, came roaring back, as Baxara scored his first goal, and Jurgen Borg drove home two angled shots, to save the day for Sliema.
Sliema were successful in their man ups, netting six from seven occasions. They had Antonio Petkovic on four goals, and John Soler and Jurgen Borg with hat tricks. Neptunes managed three goals from their seven man ups. Peter Biros finished with six strikes, and Steve Camilleri netted three goals.
Sliema and Neptunes will take four points each into the Premier League, as they start two points behind San Giljan.
Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta , N. Lubrano , T. Sullivan , M. Meli 2, J. Soler 3,
J. Borg 3, C. Cluett , J. Brownrigg 1, A. Attard , I. Basara 1, A. Petkovic 4,
K. Schembri
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, M. Lanzon , M. Stellini 1, T. Agius ,G. Mizzi , S. Camilleri 3, J. Camilleri , A. Zarb Cousin , P. Biros 6, B. Dougall , T. Molnar 2, C. Mercieca 1
Referees: M. Dalli, P. Bensaia
Preliminary Group A
Neptunes Emirates 4 3 1 0 78 40 10
Sliema Frank Salt 4 3 1 0 66 38 10
Valletta United 4 2 0 2 48 43 6
M’scala Mor€ 4 0 1 3 41 66 1
Ta Xbiex Amigos 4 0 1 3 30 76 1