Neptunes Grimaldi     14     Sirens Ritter Sport     13         

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

The final score gives a different interpretation of what actually happened. The champions were in control in the last stages of the match, and resting on a double lead. Sirens broke away. To score their last goal, but there were only seven seconds left on the clock, which Neptunes could easily control, without any real pressing from Sirens. Neptunes, playing without Tamas Molnar again, knew they were in for a torrid encounter, but came through unscathed, to grab three more precious points. They will have Molnar back, for the match against San Giljan, but now there will be doubts as to the red cards shown against Niki Lanzon, after the interval, and Michele Stellini, in the last quarter. The Sirens coach, Bogdan Rath, was yet again shown another red card, also after the break, and the disciplinary commissioner will be under scrutiny once more.

Sirens reacted well to neptunes’ opening two strikes, to draw level twice, before the end of the opening session. Edward Aquilina continued to score from man up situations, to put Sirens in front, but the champions overturned the score. Csaba Kiss brought Sirens to level terms again, only for Neptunes to pull away with a three goal burst. Sirens reduced the deficit, but Neptunes were still 9-7 in front, at the interval.

The champions managed to pull further away after vthe break, as they obtained a four goal advantage, when Rath was sent off. Sirens grabbed two goals back, with Lanzon also shown the red card. Neptunes had a 12-10 advantage, when the last session started. Aquilina immediately had Sirens just a goal away, but Neptunes patiently struck twice, and opened up a winning lead. Here Stellini was also ejected from the match, with Sirens wasting three man ups in a row. Time was against them, but they kept on pressing, to crawl back, and lose by just the odd goal, as they did in two other games against the big guns, not forgetting the positive result against San Giljan, just days ago.

Peter Biros scored a poker of goals, two from penalty throws, and Steve Camilleri netted three times, for the champions. Both Csaba Kiss and Edward Aquilina scored four times for Sirens.

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

Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Mizzi , C. Presciutti 2, C. Merten , M. Grech 1, C. Kiss 4, D. Cutajar 1, J. Napier , E. Aquilina 4, L. Caruana , A. Sammut 1, M. Pisani

Referees: P. Balzan, A. Rovida

BOV League – 1 Div.

M’scala keep marching on

Ta Xbiex Amigos     12     M’scala Mor€     15   

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

M’scala kept on the winning track, after a slow start, as they registered their second victory in three matches against Ta Xbiex, with the other ending in a draw, incidentally, the only point acquired by Ta Xbiex yet. The latter side made a bright start, as they usually do, but they do not keep on right to the end. M’scala could come back from their deficit, which was a three goal one in the second period, but at the interval ta Xbiex were leading by a single goal, at 6-5.

The remainder of the match brought more and more goals, but a five goal blitz after the break gave M’scala a solid platform to rest on. Ta Xbiex had both their foreigners in good shooting form, but they still remained at a distance from their opponents till the rest of the encounter, with M’scala able to dictate the play, and run out comfortable victors, extending their lead at the top of the standings, though with games more.l

Sergi Mora remains as the division’s top scorer, with his tally of six goals, for M’scala. Ta Xbiex had Milos Maksimovic also with six strikes, and Peter Markoch netted four times, two of them from penalty throws.

Ta Xbiex: L. Borg, L. Pace , J. Cauchi , S. Aquilina , M. Agius , C. Pace , S. Gravina , K. Debattista , E. Gravina , M. Maksimovic 6, R. Attard , O. Zammit 2, P. Markoch 4

M’scala: D. Spiteri, JC Cutajar 2, S. Mora 6, C. Bonello , E. Meli 1, L. Grixti , M. Pace 2, J. Cremona 1, S. Micallef , C. Mifsud , D. Cassar 1, G. Marnitz 2,  J. Cremona

Referees: P. Giordano, M. Calabro’