San Giljan Crystal Finance    17     Sliema Frank Salt    13

 (4-2, 3-5, 5-3, 5-3)

San Giljan overcame Sliema for the fourth straight time this season, even though they did not have it all their own way in the match. The Saints' two foreigners are getting the biggest chunks of their goals, and they netted a total of 11 times between them. They also had a positive five strikes from eight man ups to help them on. On the other hand Sliema came from behind in the last three sessions, and it was only in the late stages that San Giljan could make really sure of the result. Sliema had some changes in their line up, with Jerome Gabarretta and Alex Attard missing, with Mark and David Fenech taking their places.

Sliema led at the start, and then tied the score, only to fall two goals behind till the end of the session. The Blues then twice went to within a goal of their opponents, but the Saints opened up a three goal advantage. Till the end of the period Sliema swept right back, and three goals in succession had them on a level score, at 7-7.

After the break San Giljan regained their advantage, with a brace of strikes, but the Blues pulled a goal back. The Saints took the game in hand, popping in three goals in a row, but Sliema had Christian Cluett to get them back in the match, with his two goals, for a closer 10-12 score going into the last quarter. San Giljan's Peter Borg opened up their lead, but Sliema took little time to put in a couple of strikes, taking them to just a goal behind. The Saints then eased their minds, as Boris Vapenski and Guillermo Molina kept hitting in their goals. Sliema did reduce the deficit with a Nikola Dedovic penalty, but it was Molina and Vapenski once more, in the last stages of the match, to enhance San Giljan's victory, taking them five points clear of Neptunes, with the latter having played a game less.

Molina grabbed a double hat trick and Vapenski netted a poker of goals for the Saints. Dedovic finished with  four goals for the Blues, and Cluett had a creditable hat trick.

San Giljan: J. Sammut, P. Borg 1, A. Galea , B. Vapenski 5, G. Molina 6,M. Zammit 2, K. Galea 1, Da. Zammit , B. Plumpton , A. Cousin 1,P. Fava ,  Di. Zammit 1, D. Spiteri

Sliema: R. Coleiro, N. Bugelli , K. Dowling 1, T. Sullivan , M. Meli , J. Soler 2, M. Spiteri Staines , C. Clueti 3, J. Brownrigg  1, M. Bodegas 1,D. Fenech , N. Dedovic 5, M. Fenech 

Referees: M. Dalli, A. Severo

BOV  Relegation Pool

Exiles' Marco Cuk grabs last second victory

Sirens Ritter Sport     11     Exiles Ferretti     12

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

A match which seemed to have no interest finished up in a very exciting climax with a last second winner, as Exiles kept alive their hopes of evading the last position in their Pool. It was also their first victory over Sirens in four encounters. It was a close enopugh game at the start, with Exiles twice going ahead, and Sirens twice pulling back, in the opening session. Sirens then went ahead for the first time, but Exiles overturned the score, with a brace of strikes. Till the end of the period, and halftime, Sirens had gone in front again, with another two goals, for a slim 5-4 advantage.

After the break Marco Cuk kept up his remarkable performance, and his two goals twice had Exiles on a level score. Sirens went into a dominant mood, and went past their opponents four times without any reply, for a maximum advantage. Till the end of the session it was Cuk once more, with a brace of further goals, to halve their deficit, to a closer 8-10 scoreline. In the last period Sirens were clearly not at ease, and two more Exiles strikes had them level. Sirens had missed two man ups, but they converted their third of the session, to forge ahead. It was not enough, as Marco Cuk was the protagonist. A penalty throw evened up the score, and when Sirens lost possession in the final seconds, a long throw to Cuk, in the heart of the Sirens defence, and he evaded a couple of defenders, to plant the ball in the net, just before the sound of the final buzzer.

Exiles are still in with a shout, having to play Valletta in their final match, with the Citizens three points above them.

Marco Cuk scored a remarkable ten goals for the victors. Sirens had Christian Presciutti with a hat trick. Both sides netted half of their man ups, with Exiles with four from eight, and Sirens with five from ten.

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

A. Sammut , M. Muscat

Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi , S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi , R. Blary 1, J. Spiteri Staines , J. Bajada , K. Grixti , S. Galea Pace , A. Bianchi 1,M. Cuk 10, P. Paris , K. Lanzon

Referees: M. Angileri, T. Pagani

Championship Pool

San Giljan Crystal Finance    34

Neptunes Grimaldi                 29 

Sliema Frank Salt                   14

Relegation Pool

Sirens Ritter Sport                  19  

Valletta McDonalds                 9 

Exiles Ferretti                           6