First victory for Citizens in top sphere
Valletta McDonalds 13 Sirens Ritter Sport 10
(3-3, 3-0, 4-6, 3-1)
Valletta obtained their first win in the top echelon, and dragged themselves away from the bottom rung of the standings, going two points clear of Exiles. They had first to reply to Sirens’ strikes in the opening session, but then drew away in the next period, scoring three times without any response from Sirens. The latter side then came back admirably after the break, but Valletta started the last quarter ahead. Despite Sirens’ last efforts, Valletta made sure with two late goals.
The Citizens had their coach, Anthony Farrugia, completing his two game ban, with Stephen Rizzo again at the helm. They had Ranier Scerri missing, with Nicky Bonello Ghio in his stead.
Sirens were three times in front, at the start, with Valletta answering back every time. In teh second session Valletta forges ahead, with three goals, as Milos Korolija kept up his scoring touch. No reply from Sirens meant that the Citizens were 6-3 clear at the interval. They also increased their advantage after the break, but Sirens came back strongly, with a four goal burst, to draw level, at 7-7. Valletta went back in front, but they were pulled back twice, before Michael Rizzo gave them another lead, at 10-9. In the last session Valletta went on a double lead, but Sirens struck back. In the late stages of the match Valletta were home and dry, with a brace of goals.
Korolija ended with five goals, and Rizzo netted four more for the Citizens. Sirens had Christian Presciutti with a poker of goals.
Valletta: R. Sciortino, R. Mock , M. Spiteri Staines 1, M. Korolija 5,
N. Bonello Ghio , S. Cachia , M. Cordina , C. Zammit 1, C. Debono 1,
D. Abela, D. Paolella , D. Filipovic 1, M. Rizzo 4
Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Mizzi , C. Presciutti 4, G. Pace , M. Grech 1, C. Kiss 2,
M. Caruana , D. Cutajar 2, J. Napier 1, E. Aquilina , L. Caruana ,
A. Sammut , M. Pisani
Referees: A. DeRaffaele, F. Brasiliano
Neptunes now clear at the top
Neptunes Grimaldi 11 San Giljan Allcare 8
(2-2, 3-0, 4-3, 2-3)
In a matter of a few days Neptunes beat their near neighbours twice, in two different competitions. This time it meant that the champions have now sailed on to a four point advantage, over the same Saints, and five clear of eternal rivals, Sliema. After a balanced opening period, Neptunes made the first breakthrough, although they lost Steve Camilleri to a shoulder injury, which kept him out of the rest of the match. Neptunes were still strong enough to keep San Giljan at arms’ length, and finished off comfortable winners, to keep their horizon on a rosy hue.
The Saints struck first, but their two advantages were neutralised by the champions, as the opening session ended all square. The next period proved to be the decisive one. San Giljan failed in their three man ups, and Neptunes scored three times in return, to open up a useful 6-3 advantage, at the interval, with Camilleri going out of the water, and remaining on the bench.
Neptunes increased their lead at first, after the break, but there was a brief Saints’ revival, which had them getting closer, and threatening. This was swept away, as Neptunes struck back twice, the first time from a Peter Biros rebound from a saved penalty throw. The champions began the last quarter on a 9-5 advantage, and this was increased further. In the remaining time it was Alex radovic who made up San Giljan’s response, but Neptunes were way out in front, and Radovic’s last two goals only made a better scoreline in San Giljan’s defeat.
Biros finished with a hat trick for the champions, and Radovic took his tally to four goals for San Giljan.
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, M. Lanzon , M. Stellini 2, T. Agius ,
M. Zammit , S. Camilleri , J. Camilleri 1, A. Zarb Cousin , P. Biros 3,
B. Dougall , T. Molnar 2, C. Mercieca 2
San Giljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro , A. Galea , K. Galea , K. Dowling ,
M. Zammit 1, A. Radovic 4, A. Bianchi , K. Galea , Z. Kovacic 1,
P. Fava , D. Zammit 2, J. Sammut
Referees: M. Angileri, M. Piano
Premier League
Neptunes Grimaldi 5 4 1 0 78 54 13
San Giljan Allcare 5 3 0 2 55 44 9
Sliema Frank Salt 5 2 2 1 57 54 8
Sirens Ritter Sport 5 2 0 3 53 62 6
Valletta McDonalds 5 1 1 3 52 63 4
Exiles Ferretti 5 0 2 3 41 61 2
BOV National League – 1 Div.
Another drawn encounter has Otters sharing top spot
Otters Nivea 6 M’xlokk Fischer 6
(1-2, 4-0, 1-3, 0-1)
This second tier of play is proving to be a complicated one. Otters and M’xlokk battled out a an even score match, which takes the Gozitans on equal points with M’scala, at teh top of the standings. M;xlokk are now in mid table, with ta Xbiex making up the rear end.
Otters held good leads in the game, but they were hoisted back by a determined M’xlokk outfit, who followed up on their victory over Ta Xbiex, to take a further point.
M’xlokk held a single goal advantage from teh opening session, but then they were outsmarted by the Gozitans in the next period, as Ivan Vuksanovic grabbed a three goal run, in a four goal blitz, which had Otters 5-2 in front at the interval.
M’xlokk dragged themselves back after the break, with a Sean Xerri de Caro brace, and began the last session only a goal behind, at 5-6. M’xlokk got their just reward, with neither side making any more impacts on the scoreline, as the game ended in a tie. Vuksanovic finished with a poker of goals for Otters, and Bence Fulope netted three times for M’xlokk.
Otters: J. Micallef, G. Attard , G. Zammit , K. Scicluna , R. Bonnici , A. Borg ,
J. Paris , D. Schembri , A. Edward 1, S. Dimech , C. Martin , I. Vuksanovic 4,
K. Grima Scott 1
M’xlokk: N. Xuereb, A. Agius , B. Fulope 3, A. Galea 1, G. Busuttil , C. Bugeja ,
S. Xerri de Caro 2, A. Mifsud 1, O. Frick , A. Arrigo , D. Borg Millo ,
M. Scerri
Referees: P. Giordano, M. Piano
1 Div. League
M’scala Mor€ 4 2 2 0 41 36 8
Otters Nivea 4 2 2 0 41 38 8
M’xlokk Fischer 4 1 1 2 37 39 3
Ta Xbiex Amigos 4 0 1 3 34 40 1