Sirens complete formalities

Sirens Go Mobile found little resistance from San Giljan Kia Motors who had Warren Debono back on the coaching grid after the Saints parted company with Alfred Cachia last week.

In the second match, Marsaxlokk Freeport had to wait till the latter sessions to pull away from a spirited Valletta United Fortina Spa team.

Northerners Sirens made sure of the result in the first two sessions, after netting three and five goals respectively. Their collective play left no doubt as to their superiority with Juergen Borg ending as the best scorer with a hat-trick.

The Saints could do little against Sirens' versatility and depth of strength. The scorers' list was extended to nine players and that reflected the validity of Joe Attard's squad.

At least, San Giljan managed to break their duck in the last session which they lost by the odd goal in seven. But, by then, the damage was beyond repair.

Marsaxlokk managed to shrug off the gritty challenge of Valletta, who in previous matches were the punching bags of the top teams in the competition.

Although at one moment, in the second session, the southerners were 7-3 ahead, the City team managed to keep within striking distance as they changed ends only 7-5 adrift.

Valletta's reference point when in possession had, until then, been Giorgio Sammut. He netted four goals in the opening sessions only to add another to his tally in the third quarter.

But Marsaxlokk were the more balanced outfit despite Valletta's spirited play and refusal for negative ploys. Two late goals in the third session and two more in the last made it a decisive 12-6 scoreline for Mark Farrugia's team before Valletta pulled back three goals.

Summaries

Sirens 13
San Giljan 3
(3-0, 5-0, 1-0, 4-3)

Sirens: N. Imbroll, M. Vella, J. Rizzo Naudi, M. Zammit (1), C. Cauchi (1), J. Valletta (2), J. Borg (3), D. Cutajar (1), K. Montfort (1), W. Degiorgio (1), C. Mercieca (1), J. Farrugia (2), N. Cassar, R. Attard, A. Tanti.

San Giljan: K. Schembri, K. D'Ugo, S. Mercieca, C. Bonello, P. Cachia, M. Zammit (1), I. Azzopardi, J. Camilleri, G. Farrugia (1), A. Borda, S. Borg (1), M. Pace, K. Grima Scott, A. Borda, J. Spiteri.

Refs: I. Sciriha, A. Fenech.

Valletta 9
Marsaxlokk 12
(3-4, 2-3, 1-3, 3-2)

Valletta: P. Bonnici, G. Sammut (5), Mauro Camilleri (1), Marco Camilleri, D. Degiorgio, K. Hyzler, A. Galea (2), J.C. Farrugia, D. Shaw, C. Saliba, K. Bruno, E. Mifsud (1), M. Micallef, P. Toledo, C. Zarb Adami.

Marsaxlokk: R. Bonnici, S. Cachia (2), R. Calleja (2), K. Incorvaja (1), N. Kerr, C. Bugeja (1), R. Cutajar, S. Cutajar (2), G. Ghirxi, K. Enriquez (1), D. Cassar (1), L. Cachia (1), A. Privitera (1), M. Cutajar, M. Fava.

Refs: M. Caruana, P. Balzan.