Champions book berth in final after easy win

Sliema 6
Marsascala 3
(1-0, 2-0, 3-2, 0-1)

Yesterday, newly-crowned champions Sliema Burger King, playing in front of a quiet crowd rather than the massively vociferous one on Sunday when they won the 2004 league title, ambled through to the final of the knock-out competition at the expense of Marsascala Breakers and now face the winners of today's tie between holders Neptunes Vodafone and Sirens Go Mobile.

Despite Marsascala's victory over the Blues in this summer's first clash between the two teams, the southerners, still without Paul Privitera, sensed that their chances of again upsetting the form book were very slim.

However, the onus was on the Blues to summon their steam despite the low profile atmosphere surrounding this clash. There was no question about their superiority, even if they showed signs of casualness which could have been banished by a more concentrated Marsascala in front of goal especially on breaks and extra-man sets.

The Blues went ahead through Edward Aquilina after which Marsascala twice had a chance to equalise on man-up situations. Sliema, too, had missed an extra-man set to go two goals in the lead.

In the second session, after Josie Cachia had pulled off a fine save on Kayne Lanzon's close-range flick, Ian Bugeja allowed a John Soler tame effort to trickle in for a 2-0 lead. The same player made it three on man-up late in the second quarter.

Any slight doubts about the outcome were soon dispelled as James Falzon and Aquilina increased the Blues' advantage soon after ends were shifted.

Darren Ciappara squeezed in a goal for Marsascala for a 5-1 scoreline in favour of Sliema. But the tide was flowing one way with the Blues puncturing their opponents' zone in easy fashion. Debono's scorcher made it six only for Ciappara to pull another goal back.

The fourth quarter was a formality with both teams missing opportunities. At least John Xerri de Caro managed to break his team's man-up drought at the sixth time of asking - Sliema had scored two on five.

But that only made it 6-3 with just over a minute to go. The tie had long been resolved.

Sliema: J. Cachia, J. Falzon (1), E. Aquilina (2), M. Galea Pace, M. Meli, J. Soler (2), J. Paris, K. Engerer, C. Debono (1), F. Cutajar, R. Coleiro, I. Muscat, A. Bianchi.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, C. Spiteri de Barro, A. Galea, C. Gialanze, J. Xerri de Caro (1), J. Licari, L. Grixti, S. Micallef, K. Lanzon, P. Fava, M. Borg, D. Ciappara (2), S. Farrugia.

Refs: I. Sciriha, F. Gomez.

Division Two KO

Ta' Xbiex 11
Otters 6
(4-2, 1-1, 2-1, 4-2)

Ta' Xbiex: C. Sciortino, G. Attard (2), D. Debono, K. Sciortino (1), K. D' Ugo, A. Feró (1), J. Zammit, D. Schembri (1), T. Boyd (1), S. Balzan, P. Paolella (4), F. Testa (1).

Otters: E. Farrugia, D. Saliba, P. Dimech, S. Scerri, J. Grech, S. Scicluna, P. Saliba (2), F. Mizzi (1), V. Fenech (1), A. Tabone, K. Scicluna, M. Tabone, G. Zammit (1), S. Grech (1), R. Grech.

Refs: M. Caruana, A. De Raffaele.

Next fixtures

Playing today - Division Two KO 5.15 p.m. San Giljan vs Exiles; Division One KO 6.15 p.m. Neptunes vs Sirens.

The finals of the first and second division Knock-Out competitions will be played on Sunday, starting at 5.15 p.m. and 6.15 p.m. respectively.