Caffe Moak Luxol     60     Gzira Athleta     43

(20-10, 14-2, 15-16, 11-15)

It could be that Luxol were irritated at losing their second semifinal, and they made doubly sure of progressing to the final, as they cruised to victory, in a match which was effectively over by the interval. True, Athleta felt the absence of Beverlee Zammit, injured in their win, just days ago, but they were overwhelmed by a determined Luxol outfit, who took the game by the horns from the very start, and left their opponents in their wake. The Violets saw to it that Amelia Simmons would not inflict the damage, as in the second encounter. Although she netted a healthy number of points, they were really half the total of her last match. Luxol included the Spanish, Ina Baena Medina, as insurance, but she was not really needed, and stayed on the bench, whilst Martina Darmanin was absent.

Kay Portelli started the champions off, with her triple, and although Athleta managed to reply to the opening points, Luxol pushed forward, to make up a 10-2 run, when Portelli sank a second trey. Later on, it was Sarah Pace with her triple, as the Violets had already established a good advantage. In the second period Athleta were truly stifled. they were only limited to just one hoop, from Simmons, as Luxol went about their business, and totted up a 14-2 run, with Pace and Cristina Sollami treys, along with Maria Brown hoops. At the interval the champions were fully 34-12 in the lead.

After the break Luxol were still running the match, with Athleta having difficulty in obtaining points. Christine Curmi was dominant in the Athleta paint, and Pace netted her third triple. Luxol then became complacent, with such a large advantage, and Athleta began to find space, which was previously not afforded to them. They managed a creditable 12-0 run, till the end of the session, taking their score to 28-49. In the last session Athleta kept on, and nailed two treys, from Denise Said Hollier and Simmons. Luxol finally got their act together again, and Brown and Curmi netted the necessary points, to open up their lead once more. Said Hollier grabbed a second trey, for Athleta, but the game had been over for quite some time, with the champions having to prepare for their best of five final, against the Paolites, as from this coming Sunday.

Luxol: S. Pace 11, Ni. Vella,, I. Baena Medina,  No. Vella 6,  K. Portelli 8, L. Caruana Montaldo, M. Brown 15, C. Sollami 6,  C. Curmi 14   

Athleta: N. Hili, M. Beltri, L. Duncan 5, A. Simmons 21, D. Said Hollier 8, A. Borg, J. Schembri 5, S. Vella 4, E. Pace, C. Mifsud

Referees: E. Mangani, T. Mantere, Z. Dobrosavljevic