San Giljan C. F.          11     
Sliema Frank Salt       10     
(4-3, 4-1, 1-3, 2-3)

The Saints overcame another tough obstacle, as they regained their top league placing, but it was close at the end, as the Blues rallied back from a five goal deficit, early on after the interval. Some slack play and wayward passing by Sliema enabled San Giljan to open up a good advantage, after a single goal lead in teh opening session.

Mark Meli tied the score for the Blues in the next period, but Nikola Dedovic failed to score from a penalty throw, his first miss of the season, and the Saints grew in confidence, to rattle in four goals past their opponents, and lead comfortably, to the tune of 8-4 at the interval.

Matthew Zammit extended their advantage after the break, but Sliema recovered well, to out in three goals in a row, and come back into the match, on a 7-9 score.

In the last quarter Alex Attard reduced the deficit still more for Sliema, who also had a golden opportunity, when they were two men to the good, but failed to score.

The Saints then twice led on a double score.

Sliema went a goal behind, but there were only 22 seconds left on the clock, and San Giljan played out the remaining time, to emerge victors, and end the first round of play with a three point advantage over Neptunes. Sliema are now at a distance, in third position.

Guillermo Molina scored four goals, three of them from penalty throws, and Aurelien Cousin grabbed hat trick.

For Sliema Michael Bodegas also scored three times, one of them a penalty.

San Giljan: J. Sammut, P. Borg 1, A. Galea, B. Vapenski 1, G. Molina  4, M. Zammit 2, K. Galea, L. Saliba, T. Said, A. Cousin 3, P. Fava,  Di. Zammit, D. Spiteri

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 1, K. Dowling, N. Bugelli, M. Meli 2, J. Soler 1, M. Spiteri Staines, C. Cluett, J. Brownrigg , M. Bodegas 3, A. Attard 1, N. Dedovic 2, Z Sciberras

Referees: M. Angileri, A. Pascucci

 

First victory for Sirens

Exiles Ferretti             7    
Sirens Ritter Sport     13
(1-3. 3-2, 2-3, 1-5)

Sirens obtained their first league victory, as they disposed of wooden spoonists, Exiles.

To be sure it was only in the last session that Sirens really made sure of the result, as Exiles came back well, from a four goal deficit, in the third session.

The two sides were close to each other at first, and Sirens were only 5-4 ahead at the interval, but a three goal spell after the break had them 8-4 in front, only for Marco Cuk to score twice for exiles.

In the last period Exiles were still battling, two goals behind, but in the late stages of the encounter Sirens had Edward Aquilina scoring twice in succession, and they followed up with two more goals, for a flattering score in their favour.

Their scoring was shared among seven players, with Christian Presciutti scoring a hat trick. Exiles had Cuk on a poker of goals.

Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi, R. Blary 1, J. Spiteri Staines, S. Gravina 2, K. Grixti, D. Abela, A. Bianchi, M. Cuk 4, L. Peric, K. Lanzon 

Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Mizzi 2, C. Presciutti 3, G. Pace, M. Grech 1, C. Kiss 2, M. Caruana, D. Cutajar 1, J. Napier, E. Aquilina 2, L. Caruana 2, A. Sammut , I. Riolo

Referees: P. Balzan, M. Sponza

 

Standings

San Giljan Crystal Finance    15

Neptunes Grimaldi               12

Sliema Frank Salt                   7

Valletta McDonalds                6

Sirens Ritter Sport                4

Exiles Ferretti                        0

 

 

BOV Div I : M'Xlokk involved in league title race

Otters Nivea           10    
M'Xlokk Fischer      19  
(3-5. 1-5, 3-5, 3-4)

M'xlokk took the opportunity to get closer to the league leaders, and make the standings more interesting.

They had another comfortable victory over Otters, as in the opening round.

They were ahead in the opening session, after a three goal burst from Milos Korolija, and added on five more strikes in the next period, before the Gozitans could reply, but unfortunetely for them, they were trailing at 4-10 at the interval.

Andrew zarb Cousin failed a penalty throw for M'Xlokk, but they were still good enough to increase their advantage.

After the break, they went on to a 15-7 score, as they put in their second goalie, Joseph Cremona, between the posts, vice Nello Xuereb.

The two sides then shared seven goals in the last session, with M'Xlokk still dictating play.

Otters were under the guidance of Paul Dimech, with their regular coach, Paul Saliba, suspended for a match, in their defeat by M'Scala.

Ivan Vuksanovic scored a double hat trick, and Korolija scored a nap hand of goals, for M'Xlokk. The Gozitans had Nicky Paris on a poker of goals, and Srdjan Aksentijevic made a hat trick.

Otters: R. Bonnici, M. Borg Millo, M. Paris, L. Gialanze, F. Klajajevic 2, E. Meli, G. Mizzi, S. Dimech 1, N. Paris 4, D. Borg Millo, C. Martin, S. Aksentijevic 3, P. Theuma

M'xlokk: N. Xuereb, C. Spiteri de Barro 1, M. Korolija 5, A. Galea, C. Gialanze 1, C. Bugeja 1, N. Portelli 3, I. Vuksanovic 6, A. Zarb Cousin 2, R. Scerri, M. Lanzon, J. Xerri de Caro, J. Cremona

Referees: R. Spiteri, M. Sponza

 

Standings

Ta Xbiex Amigos                  12

M'Xlokk Fischer                     9

M'Scala Nutrition Empire      9

 Otters Nivea                       0