Knock out semi-finals

Sliema Frank Salt     16     Valletta McDonalds     12

(4-3, 5-3, 3-2, 4-4)

Sliema were the first side to advance into the K.O. final, thanks to their victory over Valletta. City held a brief lead in the opening session, but then spent the remainder of the encounter chasing after their opponents, at times close to them, but they never managed to make the leeway. Sliema extended their lead every time that the Citizens crept close, and finally ended up comfortable winners. Sliema had Paul Privitera in charge, with their coach, Vincze Balazs, on a week’s suspension.

In yesterday’s two K.O. matches a minute’s silence was held, in commemoration of the Hon. Justice, Gino Camilleri, who had close ties with the waterpolo confraternity, having held the post of Exiles president, as well as president of the ASA, besides also being the president of the Malta Olympic Committere.

Going back to the match, Sliema took a quick advantage, which was wiped out with Valletta’s brace of goals, but at the end of the period of play Sliema had gone back ahead, with late strikes. Antonio Petkovic gave Sliema a double lead, in the next session, but the Citizens battled back to a single goal behind, with a Djorde Filipovic brace. Till the interval Slieam had again established a three goal advantage, at 9-6.

After the break, despite Valletta golas from man ups, Sliema extended their advantage, to go into the last quarter on a solid 12-8 score in their favour. Valletta made the game more interesting, with two early goals, but Sliema were not to be denied, as they established their former advantage, with Alex Attard replying to more Filipovic goals, for the Citizens. Sliema kept their healthy lead till the end, after Petkovic scored his final goal of the match.

Petkovic finished with a nap hand of goals for Sliema, as did Filipovic for Valletta, who had Milos Korolija with a hat trick. Sliema were marginally better than Valletta in their man ups. Both sides had eight extra player occasions, with Sliema converting five, to the Citizens’ four.

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 1, N. Lubrano 2, T. Sullivan 1, M. Meli , J. Soler 2,

            J. Borg , C. Cluett , J. Brownrigg 1, A. Attard 2, I. Basara 2, A. Petkovic 5,

            K. Schembri

Valletta: R. Sciortino, R. Mock , M. Spiteri Staines , M. Korolija 3, D. Abela ,

               S. Cachia , D. Paolella 1, C. Zammit 1, C. Debono , R. Scerri , M. Cordina 1,

               D. Filipovic 5, M. Rizzo 1

Referees: M. Dalli, G. Del Bosco

BOV  K.O.  1 Div. – Semi Final

M’scala resist M’xlokk’s late flurry

M’scala Mor€     13     M’xlokk Fischer     12

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

M’scala won this match thanks to their better ending of the opening session, when they forged ahead by three goals. They managed to hold on to theri advantage till the end of the match, but a late spurt by M’xlokk nearly upset their plans. At the end it was M’scala who progressed to the final. M’scala will have to make out without Karl Rizzo Naudi, out injured for the rest of the season.

M’scala scored twice, early on in the game, but M’xlokk came back in style, with a three goal burst. Till the end of the period M’scala were again in control, as they swept in four goals in a row, for a useful advantage. In teh second session M’scala added on a further strike, but M’xlokk again put in three goals in succession, to go just behind their opponents. Till the end of the quarter, M’scala had their two foreigners with a goal apiece, for a better 10-7 lead, at the interval.

After the break the goals dwindled down, but M’scala responded to Bence Fulope’s brace for M’xlokk, as they kept their adversaries at bay, on a 12-9 scoreline. . A Gergo marnitz penalty throw had M’scala on a better advantage, but M’xlokk struck back, as they pierced M’scala’s defence three times. They had a late occasion to tie the score, but the ball was intercepted, and M’scala breathed easier in the last seconds, to take their place in the final.

Marnitz scored five times, and Sergi Mora added four more goals for M’scala, though they did not fare well in their man ups, netting three from a total of ten. M’xlokk finished with six players, all on two goals, as they converted half of their eight man ups.

M’scala: D. Spiteri, JC Cutajar 1, S. Mora 4, C. Bonello , E. Meli 1, L. Grixti ,

               J. Cremona 1, S. Micallef , M. Pace , D. Cassar , G. Marnitz 5, J. Cremona

M’xlokk: N. Xuereb, A. Agius , B. Fulope 2, A. Galea , G. Busuttil 2, C. Bugeja 2,

                M. Fenech 2, S. Xerri de Caro 2, A. Mifsud , O. Frick , A. Arrigo ,

                D. Borg Millo 2, M. Scerri

Referees:R. Spiteri, G. Lo Dico