Valletta McDonalds     8     Neptunes Grimaldi     11

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

Valletta gave the champions more than a run for their money, as they stayed in front till halfway through the third session, only to fall foul of Neptunes in the remaining time. The Citizens were without Daniel Paolella for this encounter.

Valletta were a tough nut to crack in the first part of the match, as they forged in front, and continued to stay there, despite all of the Neptunes players' efforts. Gergely Kiss started off the Citizens, with a brace of goals, and Karl Galea added another one, with the Camilleri brothers replying for the champions. Early on the champions had failed in their opening three man ups. In the next period Valletta were still keeping their more quoted opponents at arms' length, and they also managed a better advantage, at 6-3, with a couple of Charlie Zammit strikes, before Steve Camilleri again scored late in the session, taking Neptunes to 4-6 behind. at the interval.

After the break Michele Stellini reduced the deficit further, with a man up, only the second occasion, from a total of ten man ups, that the champions could score. Ivan Krapic brought both sides level, but Djorde Filipovic took Valletta in front for the last time in the match. Then Neptunes went into top gear, and Clint Mercieca helped them to go ahead for the first time, with two nettings from three, as Neptunes began the last quarter on a 9-7 advantage. Peter Biros eased Neptunes' minds with his strike, although Michael Cordina pulled a goal back for the Citizens, on anther man up. Valletta did well on these occasions, netting five from eight man ups. . Mercieca again had the last say in the match, as he obtained his hat trick, and closed down the game.

Neptunes leapfrogged over San Giljan, to the top of the standings, but the Saints will be meeting Sliema today, in the last game of the opening phase, when these three teams will be taking the points gained,to the Championship Pool.

Valletta: R. Sciortino, O. Zammit, M. Rizzo , K. Galea 1, A. Agius , R. Mock ,G. Kiss 2, N. Bonello Ghio , M. Cordina 2, C. Zammit 2, D. Filipovic 1, D. Camilleri

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, M. Castillo , M. Stellini 2, T. Agius , I. Krapic 1, S. Camilleri 2, J. Camilleri 1, M. Azzopardi , P. Biros 1, B. Lanzon , S. Xerri de Caro , C. Mercieca 3

Referees: M. Dalli, S. Scappini

 

BOV Premier League

Sirens end their first phase on a top note

Sirens Ritter Sport     14     Exiles Ferretti    8          

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

Sirens did an emphatic double over Exiles, with another comfortable victory, which took them to just a point below Sliema, but not enough to make the Championship Pool. They will now play in the Relegation Pool, along with Valletta and the same Exiles, with the points accrued from the opening phase.

Sirens had Isiah Riolo back in the side, vice Jacob Sciberras, and Exiles opted to put David Abela in goal, in lieu of Ian Bugeja. The first session was  close one, with Sirens taking a double advantage, but Exiles going  a goal behind. The second period was characterised with two strikes each from Edward aquilina and Christian Presciutti, for Sirens, in a six goal burst, with marco Cuk not so much a protaginist for exiles. Besides scoring their only goal of the session, he also missed two penalty throws, the first saved by Nicky Grixti, in the Sirens' goal, and Cuk blasted his second underneath the crossbar, but the ball failed to cross the imaginary line. At the inetrval Sirens had already gone on to a solid 9-3 advantage.

After the break Cuk scored his third goal, but Sirens were still putting in their goals, three in a row. Exiles were given another penalty, and this time Romain Blary shot in, and so did Presciutti, for Sirens, at the other end, for a heavy 13-s score, going on to the last quarter. Exiles were hurt, and they managed to obtain a better score than before, with three more goals, and this time Cuk made no mistake,, on his side's fourth penalty throw. Presciutti scored the last goal of the match for Sirens, who managed three goals from seven man ups. Exiles converted their first man up, but failed in their next five. Csaba Kiss and Edward aquilina both netted a poker of goals, along with a Presciutti hat trick, for Sirens. Exiles had Cuk on four goals, besides his two missed penalties, and Romain Blary was also on a hat trick.

Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Mizzi , C. Presciutti 3, G. Pace , M. Grech 1, C. Kiss 4, M. Caruana , D. Cutajar , J. Napier, E. Aquilina 4, L. Caruana 1,A. Sammut , I. Riolo

Exiles: D. Abela, J. Rizzo Naudi , S. Vassallo , D. Pace Lupi , R. Blary 3, J. Spiteri Staines , S. Gravina , K. Grixti 1, I. Bugeja , A. Bianchi ,