Victories for quoted teams
Marsascala 9Ta' Xbiex 8(3-2, 1-1, 5-1, 0-4)\nMarsascala Breakers edged out Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise in yesterday's first match which developed into a close affair, even if at one point Marsascala had an almost re-assuring lead. The first two...
Marsascala 9
Ta' Xbiex 8
(3-2, 1-1, 5-1, 0-4)
\nMarsascala Breakers edged out Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise in yesterday's first match which developed into a close affair, even if at one point Marsascala had an almost re-assuring lead.
The first two sessions had been balanced with the southerners taking a 3-1 lead before Ta' Xbiex equalised, only for Stefan Licari's team to nose ahead before ends were changed.
Then a five-goal burst from Marsascala gave them a comfortable 9-4 lead before the last session started.
However, four goals from Ta' Xbiex in the final quarter fell just short of nullifying that lead with Marsascala relieved to emerge winners from this encounter.
Marsascala: I. Bugeja, J. Cutajar, S. Farrugia, J. Cachia, M. Borg 1, S. Popovski 2, P. Fava 1, L. Grixti 1, S. Micallef 3, M. Fava, R. Cutajar, M. Spiteri 1, D. Ciappara.
Ta' Xbiex: A. Tanti, G. Attard, K. Rizzo Naudi, K. Sciortino 1, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, D. Dowling 1, P. Paolella, D. Schembri 1, T. Boyd, T. van Oost 1, K. Sciortino, S. Balzan 1, D. Pisani 2.
Refs: I. Sciriha, M. Caruana.
Neptunes 14
San Giljan 10
(2-1, 2-4, 5-3, 5-2)
Neptunes Vodafone, for much of the proceedings unable to come to grips with San Giljan Zara's efficient defensive deployment, and also due to their carelessness and indisciplined play, finally managed to effectively pull free from their opponents in the final session.
They went into a 2-1 first-quarter lead extended by another goal before they messed up several shooting situations to allow the efficient Saints to crawl back and take a 5-3 advantage when grabbing all their chances.
But before midway point, Neptunes trimmed the deficit with Niki Lanzon being introduced in the third quarter to add verve into his team's weak attacking stint.
At first, that ploy didn't quite work as the Saints kept taking their chances while the Reds continued to betray signs of uneasiness. However, Neptunes turned the tide in their favour to start the last part of the game 9-8 ahead.
San Giljan, yesterday without utility player Anthony Galea, had given everything and the Reds were able to open the throttle for a 14-10 victory.
Top scorers were Dubravco Simenc and Steve Camilleri, for Neptunes, and Kayne Lanzon for San Giljan, all with four goals each.
Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 1, T. Agius, D. Simenc 4, E. Cachia 1, J. Brownrigg 1, S. Camilleri 4, L. Attard, D. Camilleri, K. Galea 1, A. Sammut, M. Stellini 1, M. Pisani 1.
San Giljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro, K. Schembri, C. Bonello, I. Azzopardi 1, M. Zammit 2, M. Cuk 2, M. Pace, G. Ghirxi, A. Borda, S. Borg 1, J. Xerri de Caro, K. Lanzon 4.
Refs: M. Dalli, M. Angilleri.
Sliema 20
Marsaxlokk 3
(5-1, 5-0, 6-2, 4-0)
Sliema Burger King disposed of Marsaxlokk Freeport as summarily as their 20-3 victory suggests. As was anticipated, there was never any indication of a contest, given the disparity in strength between the two sides.
The Blues went into scoring groove from the outset and maintained their conversion momentum while making use of all their manjack in the squad.
The southseasiders' staying power ran shorter as the match progressed. On top of that Sergei Frolov was constantly caged in by the Sliema defenders, apart from having the supply lines towards him completely cut.
Besides that, Marsaxlokk's penchant of playing positively often found them short of men in defensive positions whenever Sliema retrieved the ball around their five-metre mark and broke.
Top scorers for Sliema were Mark Meli, John Soler and Tibor Benedek, each with four goals.
Sliema: J. Cachia, C. Gialanze 1, E. Aquilina 3, M. Rizzo 2, M. Meli 4, J. Soler 4, D. Paolella, T. Benedek 4, C. Debono, F. Cutajar 1, G. Lubrano 1, A. Bianchi, R. Coleiro.
Marsaxlokk: R. Bonnici, S. Cachia, R. Calleja, A. Farrugia, D. Debono, C. Bugeja, E. Pisani, S. Cutajar, S. Frolov 2, F. Testa, D. Cassar, J. Vella 1, K. Grima Scott.
Refs: A. De Raffaele, P. Giordano.
Exiles 7
Sirens 19
(0-4, 1-5, 1-6, 5-4)
Any hopes Exiles had of posing some sort of threat to champions 2X Sirens were dissolved in the pool as the St Paul's Bay team continued where they left off against San Giljan last week.
While Sirens displayed all their blazing guns to start off in cracking fashion, Dirk Dowling's team could only put up a sheepish performance which left them stranded.
John Farrugia's Sirens looked sharp all the way, and to this Exiles had no reply, especially with Gerben Silvis being kept under constant check.
Sirens managed to breach Exiles' central zone cover almost at will thanks mainly to the shooting skills and continuous movement of their men. The outcome was a foregone conclusion as early as the first quarter. After that it was only academic.
Jonathan Valletta ended as his team's top scorer for the day with five goals.
Exiles: N. Imbroll, K. Griscti, M. Zarb, J. Cuschieri, T. Sullivan, G. Desira Buttigieg, J. Paris 1, J. Cremona 1, John J. Tabone, S. Gravina 3, G. Silvis 2, A. Arrigo, M. Calleja.
Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, T. Debono, N. Cassar 1, P. Privitera 4, C. Zammit 1, J. Valletta 5, J. Borg, D. Cutajar 1, K. Montfort 2, T. Marcz 1, C. Mercieca 2, R. Attard 2, A. Grech.
Refs: R. Spiteri, P. Balzan.