Neptunes Grimaldi     18     San Giljan Allcare     16

(3-3, 3-7, 7-1, 5-5)

Neptunes are still unbeaten, with just a match to go to the end of the season. But that was not the case midway through the match, when San Giljan were pounding at the champions' fort. Everything then changed fater the interval, as neptunes sliced open the Saints' defence, with San Giljan coming back late in the match, to make the final score a more compact one. It was Neptunes' fifth straight victory over their near neighbours. San Giljan had a changed side, with Claudio Spiteri de barro and kai Dowling missing, and Andrea Bianchi making a return, and youngsters, as Darren Zammit, Ben Plumpton and Joseph Galea being included also.

Neptunes took a double advantage, after San Giljan had opened the scoring, but the Saints were on level terms by the end of the opening session. Neptunes went in front again, but then they had to tie the score twice, before being hit with a three goal run by San Giljan. Neptunes' stalwart, Steve Camilleri was shown a red card, and the Saints added another strike before the interval, for a surprising 10-6 score in their favour.

After the break the Saints extended their lead further, but then the champions went into top gear, and they hammered in a succession of seven goals, without any reply from the Saints, who also lost Alex Radovic, on a red card. Neptunes went into the last quarter on a 13-11 advantage.More penalties were the order of the day, as Niki Lanzon converted two more, with Zejlko Kovacic failing his for the Saints. . San Giljan pulled two goals back, but Peter Biros reacted twice for the champions, who were four goals to the good. San Giljan's late rally had them putting a trio of goals, to go to within a goal of their opponents, but Lanzon settled the issue with his last goal, seconds from time, as Neptunes took all points from a difficult encounter.

Lanzon finished with five goals, and Michele Stellini and Biros scored four more each for the champions. San Giljan has Kovacic also with five strikes, and Alex Radovic netted four goals, before his expulsion.

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

San Giljan: D. Camilleri, D. Zammit , A. Galea 2, B. Plumpton 2, J. Galea ,M. Zammit 1, A. Radovic4 , A. Bianchit , K. Galea , Z. Kovacic 5,P. Fava , D. Zammit 2, J. Sammut

Referees: P. Balzan, L. Bianco

Championship Pool Standings

Neptunes Grimaldi     13    11     2     0   188   129   35

Sliema Frank Salt      12     6     3     3   127   121   21   

San Giljan Allcare      12     5     0     7   156   143   18

BOV 1 Div. League

M'scala champions, after early scare

Otters Nivea     9     M'scala Mor€     15

(5-4, 1-5, 3-4, 0-2)

M'scala were crowned champions in the last match of this division, as they overtook M'xlokk, who had won a day earlier, and finished two points above their main rivals. It was a nervy match, which threatened to erupt just before the end of the game, but then everything calmed down, and M'scala, who by then were on a good winning margin, could complete their victory, and become champions. Otters recovered Duncan Schembri and M'scala had Gergo Marnitz returning instead of Arpas babay, who took his place in the two previous encounters. M'scala could thus avenge the defeat by the same Gozitans, in their last match against them.

Ivan Vuksanovic piled in three goals for Otters at the start, but M'scala recovered, to tie the score, only for Otters to score twice more. M'scala pulled a goal back before the end of the period. M'scala went ahead in the second session, with Otters drawing level. Then the champions netted three times in a row, to go in at halftime on a 9-6 advantage.

After the break Otters matched their opponents for some time, but M'scala's lead remained constant. Otters lost Schembri on a red card, and M'scala went into the last session resting on a 13-9 lead. Matthew Pace netted twice more for M'scala, to seal their victory, and then came dark clouds, with two more expulsions, Andrei Edward for Otters and Stephen Micallef for M'scala. The frayed nerves calmed down, and M'scala ended the game in possession, and getting their vital three points.

M'scala had  three players all with a poker of goals, Sergi Mora, Gergo Marnitz and Matthew Pace. The Gozitans' Vuksanovic was the game's top scorer with a double hat trick.

After the match the BOV branch manager, Christine Saliba, presented the victorious M'scala team with their winning medals, and captain, Joe Cremona received the league trophy, as his side celebrated the two honours won this season, the league and K.O. double.

Otters: R. Bonnici, G. Attard , G. Zammit , A. Azzopardi , J. Micallef , D. Schembri , J. Paris 2, S. Dimech , A. Edward 1, A, Cachia , C. Martin , I. Vuksanovic 6,K. Grima Scott

 M’scala: D. Spiteri, JC Cutajar , S. Mora 4, C. Bonello 1, E. Meli , L. Grixti ,  M. Pace 4, J. Cremona 1, S. Micallef , C. Mifsud , D. Cassar 1,  G. Marnitz 4, J. Cremona

Referees: M. Angileri, A. Petronilli

1 Div. League Standings - Final

M’scala Mor€            12     7     3     2   143   117   21

M'xlokk Fischer         12     7     2     3   124   114   23

Otters Nivea              12     4     2     6   119   137   14

Ta Xbiex Amigos        12     2     1     9   117   135     7