Sirens out of the running

Marsascala 7
Sirens 7
(1-1, 2-1, 2-4, 2-1)

Go Mobile Sirens' slim hopes for the title fizzled out after they failed to pick maximum points against Marsascala yesterday.

It was a match of fluctuating fortunes with an apparently not fully-motivated Sirens relinquishing a two-goal lead midway through the last session.

The southerners took the lead through John Xerri De Caro, only to concede the equaliser midway through an arid first session when Montfort hit in from an angle. Xerri de Caro lost two easy chances to put his team ahead before the opening quarter ended, by which time all three man-up sets had been wasted.

John Farrugia evaded his shadower's clutches in the centre to put Sirens 2-1 ahead. Two goals from Paul Fava and Mario Zammit, both from extra-man situations, gave Pierre Borg's team a 3-2 lead at the half-way stage.

Both teams persisted with press, with breaks at either end not coming to fruition. Valletta procured two expulsions in his team's favour enabling Jurgen Borg and Montfort to overturn the scoreline in Sirens' favour.

Ciappara and Valletta broke to leave Sirens 5-4 ahead. Ciappara converted a penalty before Privitera resolved a man-up for a 6-5 Sirens' advantage. Neil Cassar gave his team a 7-5 lead in the fourth session but two goals within a minute, both from man-up sets, enabled Ciappara and Fava to level matters.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, P. Fava (2), A. Galea, A. Farrugia, C. Gialanze, J. Xerri de Caro (1), C. Mercieca, J. Cremona, L. Grixti, R. Calleja, S. Farrugia, M. Zammit (1), D. Ciappara (3).

Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, C. Spiteri de Barro, K. Rizzo Naudi, P. Privitera (1), C. Cauchi, J. Valletta (1), J. Borg (1), D. Cutajar, K. Montfort (2), W. Degiorgio, A. Grech, J. Farrugia (1), N. Cassar (1).

Refs: G. Di Napoli, I. Sciriha.

Division II

Otters 4
Exiles 9
(0-3, 1-4, 1-2, 2-0)

The prospects of having to collect maximum spoils at the expense of Otters in order to wrest the championship title from Marsaxlokk were not at all a daunting task for Exiles RMF.

Given their credentials, the Gozitans could not constitute any threat to Dirk Dowling's vastly superior outfit. Marshalled expertly by Silvio Borg, who also topped his team's scorers' list, Exiles also drew strength from the emerging qualities of David Pace Lupi, Timmy Sullivan and Steven Grech, the consistent scoring traits of Kayne Lanzon and the experience of centre Jason Vella and Anthony Cachia, besides others.

This combination of youth and maturity formed the right tactical balance which provided the team with propulsion and solidity in all departments.

The fact that they only lost two points in drawn matches against San Giljan was enough testimony of Exiles' superiority over all other opposition this year.

Yesterday, they capped the 2002 season in typically efficient fashion, even if they slowed down towards the end of the match. They beat Otters as comfortably as the scoreline suggests.

At the end of the match, ASA secretary Alan Bonello presented the cup to Jason Vella.

Otters: R. Grech, J. Cefai, G.L. Zammit, S. Grech (2), J. Grech, C. Zammit, P. Saliba (1), K. Mizzi, K. Vella, D. Zammit, A. Tabone, M. Tabone (1), D. Saliba.

Exiles: D. Camilleri, M. Grima, A. Cachia, D. Pace Lupi (2), T. Sullivan, S. Grech, A. Sciberras, A. Bruno, K. Camilleri, S. Balzan, S. Borg (3), J. Vella (2), K. Lanzon (2).

Refs: A. DeRaffaele, A. Fenech.

Ta' Xbiex 6
Marsaxlokk 4
(4-2, 1-0, 0-1, 1-1)

Ta' Xbiex: A. Tanti, G. Attard (2), C. Sciortino, G.F. Stellini, E. Pisani, P. Paolella, M. Psaila (1), D. Schembri (1), T. Boyd (1), E. Barbara, A. Arrigo, F. Testa (1), S. Micallef.

Marsaxlokk: R. Bonnici, L. Cachia (1), J. Zammit, D. Sullivan, C. Bonello, S. Cachia, A. Privitera (1), S. Cutajar (1), A. Scicluna, C. Jones, D. Cassar (1), K. Incorvaja, A. Xuereb.

Refs: M. Caruana, A. Farrugia.

Division II KO draw

Wednesday - 4 p.m. Ta' Xbiex vs Marsaxlokk; 5 p.m. Valletta vs San Giljan.

Friday (SFs) - 4 p.m. Ta' Xbiex/Marsaxlokk vs Valletta/San Giljan; 5 p.m. Otters vs Exiles.

Sunday - 4 p.m. Final.

Under-19: Neptunes 8 Sliema 6 (Sliema win league honours).