Expert Blues shrug off Sirens' challenge

Sliema McDonalds once again showed their mettle and big-match temperament when they beat off Sirens Hard Rock Cafe's challenge in a highly muscular duel which was resolved in the Blues' favour in the last session.

Sliema would certainly thank their tandem of John Soler and Michael Rizzo, each scorer of a hat-trick, whose virtuosity and scoring ability won the day for their team.

Sirens proved to be up to it and even went ahead twice on 6-5 and 7-6 until three goals in succession in the last quarter put paid to their efforts to stay in the game.

It was a pity that the match ended with acrimonious exchanges as there was dissent towards the referees' decision from both sections. The Blues kickstarted to take a 2-0 lead before Sirens netted twice on either side of Sliema's third goal.

In the second session, the St Paul's Bay team recovered after going 4-2 behind to level matters on 4-4. Sliema again went ahead only to concede the equaliser (5-5) as Sirens were matching them in every facet of the game.

Cover tactics did not vary much between press and zone as the game remained balanced. Sirens' lead of 6-5 and 7-6 was twice neutralised with Rizzo and Soler shining for the Blues.

With the teams sharing 14 goals at the end of the third session it remained intriguingly poised. However, two goals within 44 seconds gave Sliema a 9-7 lead with the Blues again extending the gap to 10-7.

Tempers were becoming frayed at this point and with Sirens enjoying a two-man numerical advantage, Privitera reduced the arrears to 10-8 with two and a half minutes to go.

Sliema defended stoutly when they were not in possession and, with time running out for Pierre Borg's team and amid strong-arm tactics the Blues administered that lead until the final whistle.

Marsascala 7Up got the better of Marsaxlokk Freeport in the derby of the south as the two teams clashed in the first match. The winners faced a stiff challenge from their neighbours who started well, but eventually were made to concede supremacy to faster opponents.

Again Marsascala's key weapon was Fabio Valenti whose speed and suppleness were only met by Russian Sergei Frolov of Marsaxlokk.

Needless to say, both teams' foreigners ended up as top scorers for their teams, with the Italian netting six times to Frolov's four.

Marsascala's edge started showing from the second session onwards and after they took an 8-3 lead their victory was never in doubt, despite Marsaxlokk's generous effort to keep fighting.

Sliema 10
Sirens 8
(3-2, 2-3, 2-2, 3-1)

Sliema: J. Cachia, C. Gialanze, E. Aquilina 1, M. Rizzo 3, M. Meli, J. Soler 3, T. Varga 2, J. Valletta, C. Debono, F. Cutajar, D. Paolella 1, A. Bianchi, R. Coleiro.

Sirens: A. Grech, P. Fava 1, K. Rizzo Naudi, P. Privitera 1, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, T. Debono, J. Borg, D. Cutajar 1, K. Montfort 1, C. Zammit, C. Mercieca 2, Z. Varga 1, E. Arrigo.

Refs: P. Balzan, A. De Raffaele.

Marsascala 12
Marsaxlokk 7
(3-2, 2-0, 3-2, 4-3)

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, J.C. Cutajar 1, S. Farrugia 1, A. Galea, M. Borg Spiteri, L. Grixti, F. Valenti 6, K. Enriquez, S. Micallef 1, R. Cutajar 1, D. Cassar, M. Spiteri, D. Ciappara 2.

Marsaxlokk: R. Bonnici, G. Attard, R. Calleja 1, A. Farrugia, S. Farrugia, C. Bugeja, E. Pisani, D. Schembri 1, S. Frolov 4, C. Grima Scott, G. Ghirxi, N. Agius 1, A. Sammut.

Refs: M. Caruana, M. Dalli.