NEPTUNES LEO VEGAS        10
SIRENS GREENTUBE            7
(5-2), (1-3), (0-1), (3-1)

Neptunes Leo Vegas claimed their fifth win from six games in this edition as they battled their way to defeat Sirens Greentube 10-7. This win permitted Jovan Popovic's team to finish first in this phase and will therefore play again Sirens next week in the semi-final play-off. Neptunes finished first because they won the direct encounter with San Ġiljan after their rivals finished also with 15 points.

Neptunes had the edge from the start of the game as they took advantage from a typical slow start by Sirens and opened up a  4-1 advantage up to the first part of the first session. This situation left Sirens in a tough situation, but Popovski's men managed to respond in a brilliant fashion.

They stayed in the game in the second session which they won and reduced the gap only to a goal. After the restart, Matthew Sciberras equalised while Neptunes failed to convert any of their three man-up situations.

At that point, Sirens were looking to take the lead for the first team, but a quick double by youngsters Jake Muscat and Nikolai Zammit in the last session paved the way for Neptunes to win.

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon (3), K. Erdogan, G. Pace, M. Martellacci, J. Farrugia, J. Muscat (2), S. Busuttil, J. Abela (2), N. Zammit (2), I. Zammit, M. Azzopardi (1), B. Busuttil

Sirens: N. Grixti, J. Ciantar (2), E. Aquilina (1), P. Privitera, M. Grech, G. Sammut, J. Zerafa Gregory, I. Riolo (1), J. Napier, L. Caruana (1), M. Sciberras (2), G. Galea Curmi

Referees: Mario Dalli, Stefan Licari

 

BIRŻEBBUĠA FREEPORT           9
SAN ĠILJAN TUM INVEST         14
(2-4), (2-1), (3-5), (2-4)

They had to battle more than expected but San Ġiljan TUM Invest finished the game as winners. Credit goes to Birżebbuġa Freeport who fought their way to even the difference between the teams. Despite that the 14-9 scoreline is still a loss, in reality it is not a humiliation for them, as San Ġiljan only assured themselves from the win in the last session.

The game had a different story as San Ġiljan were already 4-0 in front with a minute left for the end of the session, but two goals from Jake Bajada and David Cutajar gave a lifeline to Birżebbuġa. Pierre Borg's team shared the second session and even won to reduced the gap to 5-4 at the break.

San Ġiljan upped their game in the third session and opened up a four-goal lead, but a goal by their centre David Pace Lupi gave them hope of recovering. Ben Plumpton and Andreas Galea scored in the first part of the last session to close the game, as Marko Orlovic's team controlled till the end.

Birżebbuġa: D. Spiteri, K. Camilleri, N. Cassar, D. Pace Lupi (5), C. Mifsud (1), R. Spiteri, S. Vassallo, D. Cutajar (1), J. Bajada (2), L. Borg, M. Borg, J. Buhagiar, J. Cremona

San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, D. Ciantar, A. Galea (4), B. Grech, K. Dowling, A. Saliba, B. Plumpton (6), C. Farrugia, T. Said, Da. Zammit (1), P. Fava, M. Ortoleva (3), T. Micallef

Referees: Alex De Raffaele, Peter Balzan

 

VALLETTA VIDEOSLOTS           5
EXILES ELIA CATERERS           11
(0-4), (1-3), (1-3), (3-1)

Before the game, the game between Valletta Videoslots and Exiles Elia Caterers was seen as a balanced affair between both teams who only beat Birżebbuġa. But on the day, Exiles were too superior to their opponents and the game literally had no story.

Exiles won the first session 4-0 with goals from a brace by Aurelien Cousin, Timmy Sullivan and Sean Xerri de Caro. They were even 6-0 in the second session, and Kurt Griscti responded to Daniel Paolella's goal as Exiles finished the second session with a commanding 7-1 lead.

The last two sessions were practically a formality as Valletta never showed signs of a comeback, and it was only the last session that gave a score more respectable. With this win, Exiles finished this edition in fifth place before Valletta.

Valletta: R. Sciortino, J. Spiteri Staines (1), A. Agius, P. Borg, C. Zammit, R. Mock, D. Paolella (3), M. Mifsud, N. Farrugia, M. Zammit, M. Lanzon (1), L. Gialanze, R. Bonnici

Exiles: M. Martin, C. Von Brockdorf, A. Magri, P. Paris, T. Sullivan (2), S. Xerri de Caro (2), M. Fenech (2), K. Griscti (1), N. Paris, A. Cousin (3), B. Lanzon (1), S. Apap, M. Castillo

Referees: Massimo Angileri, Ronnie Spiteri