Exiles Ferretti     12     Sliema Frank Salt     14   

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

Sliema did the double over Exiles, but they did it the hard way, unlike their victory in the first encounter. This time they were given a better run for their money, as Exiles stayed in contention till the end. Not only that, but Exiles even managed to forge ahead three times, in the second period, only for Sliema to overturn the score till the interval. After the break Sliema were twice on a three goal advantage, but Exiles clawed themselves back, and kept Sliema on tenterhooks till the end.

Sliema had Zach Sciberras in goal, vice Ryan Coleiro, who was unfit for the match. There was also Mark Fenech taking the place of Michael Spiteri Staines, and he left a mark on the match, as he scored twice in the last quarter, to keep Sliema in front, thus denying Exiles from creeping nearer. Exiles were under the guidance of Matthew Pisani instead of the suspended coach, Maurizio Mirarchi.

Marco Cuk had a very positive match for the losers, as he scored more than half of their total, with a double hat trick. Sliema had Nikola Dedovic with a poker of goals, including two penalty throws, and Mark Meli scored a hat trick, all from man ups.

Sliema converted six of their eleven man ups, whilst Exiles managed three goals from five occasions.

Sliema are again in sole third position, edging away from Sirens, who were on a par, after their victory over Valletta.

Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi , S. Vassallo 1, D. Pace Lupi 1, R. Blary 1,J. Spiteri Staines , S. Gravina 1, K. Grixti , D. Abela , A. Bianchi 1,M. Cuk 6, P. Paris , K. Lanzon 1

Sliema: Z. Sciberras, J. Gabarretta 2, K. Dowling , T. Sullivan , M. Meli 3, J. Soler 1, M. Fenech 2, C. Cluett , J. Brownrigg  2, M. Bodegas , A. Attard , N. Dedovic 4, R. Coleiro

Referees: M. Angileri, F. Barbera

BOV Premier League

Neptunes go alongside the Saints, in top place.

San Giljan Crystal Finance    9     Neptunes Grimaldi     11     

(3-3, 2-3, 3-3, 1-2)

The champions bettered their second placing in the standings, as they had the better of San giljan, in a tough encounter, and now there are two leaders in the league table. Neptunes also avenged the single goal defeat they suffered against the Saints, at the start of the league campaign.

San Giljan were only in front once, in the opening session, and the rest of the time had them chasing their adversaries, although they were on tied scores on numerous occasions.  The champions made the breakthrough in the last session, when they opened a two goal advantage for the second time in the match, and although San Giljan pulled a goal back, they couldn't go alongside one more time, and quick reflexes from Jordan Camilleri, in the last stages of the game, when he flicked the ball into the Saints' goal, after Michele Stellini had hit a post for Neptunes, killed off the match in favour of the champions.

It was anybody's match for most of teh time, as both sides enjoyed leads in the opening session, which had the Neptunes coach, Zoran Mustur, shown the red card, presumably for protests. Neptunes were into their first double advantage in the second session, but Matthew Zammit pulled a goal back, and the Saints were 5-6 behind at the interval.

San Giljan tied the score on three occasions after the break, but a NIki Lanzon goal had the champions on a 9-8 lead, going into the last session. Steve Camilleri gave Neptuines a double advantage once more, but Gullermo Molina gave the saints fresh hopes, which were dashed by Jordan Camilleri's strike, The final seconds had Alan Borg Cole, in Neptunes' goal, repelling  the last, frantic San Giljan shots.

Neptunes had a good outing in their man ups, scoring six times from nine occasions. Not so the Saints, who converted three from eight man ups.

Steve Camilleri shot in four goals for the champions. San Giljan's two foreigners scored seven goals between them, with Molina bagging four and Boris Vapenski scoring three.

San Giljan: J. Sammut, P. Borg , A. Galea , B. Vapenski 3, G. Molina  4,M. Zammit1 , K. Galea  , J. Busuttil , B. Plumpton , A. Cousin , P. Fava ,  Di. Zammit 1, D. Spiteri

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 2, M. Castillo , M. Stellini 1, T. Agius , I. Krapic 2, S. Camilleri 4, J. Camilleri 1, J. Abela , P. Biros 1, B. Lanzon , S. Xerri de Caro , C. Mercieca

Referees: P. Balzan, M. Calabro'

Standings

San Giljan Crystal Finance    15

Neptunes Grimaldi                 15

Sliema Frank Salt                   10

Sirens Ritter Sport                    7

Valletta McDonalds                 6

Exiles Ferretti                           0