Sirens make sure in last session

Otters 6
Marsascala 19
(1-7, 1-3, 3-4, 1-5)

Otters, from Gozo, made their debut in the National League yesterday when they faced Marsascala only to be heavily beaten by the southseasiders.

The scoreline reflected the imbalance there was between the teams, with Marsascala taking their opponents by storm to build a 7-1 lead in the first session.

Thereafter, the game had nothing to offer as a contest, as Chris Sladden's team dominated the proceedings.

The standard bearer in Marsascala's victory was Italian Andrea Stringali who helped himself to seven goals before he was given some temporary rest. He was closely followed by John Licari who picked his spot five times.

Otters
R. Grech, D. Saliba, G.L. Zammit 1, S. Grech 1, M. Kallay, L. Cachia, K. Mizzi, J. Vella, P. Szabo 2, K. Scicluna, T. Simon, M. Tabone 2, S. Scerri, S. Bajada, E. Farrugia.

Marsascala
I. Bugeja, C. Gialanze, A. Tringali 7, M. Borg Spiteri 3, L. Grixti, J. Licari 5, J. Cremona, S. Micallef 2, R. Cutajar 1, D. Cassar, M. Borg, J.C. Cutajar 1, S. Farrugia.

Referees: A. Farrugia, A. DeRaffaele.

Exiles 5
Ta' Xbiex 2
(1-0, 1-1, 1-1, 2-0)

The second match, between Exiles and Ta' Xbiex, was a largely balanced duel which was finally resolved in favour of Exiles.

Exchanges were tight with rearguards at each end closing their ranks efficiently to deny the attackers space within the five-metre area and beyond. Hence, the dearth of goals amidst stringent marking, with expulsions being at a premium. The few sanctions, though, included those of Michael Rizzo and Peter Paolella, both excluded with substitution.

Ta' Xbiex were always forced to chase opponents who were faster both in the defensive and offensive phases. Romain Blari and Aurelien Cousin stood out in this respect.

The decisive push by Exiles arrived in the last session when they scored twice to seal the issue on a three-goal advantage.

Exiles
A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi, K. Rizzo Naudi 1, D. Pace Lupi, T. Sullivan, R. Blari 1, M. Rizzo 1, K. Griscti, A. Zarb Cousin 1, A. Cousin, K. Enriquez, S. Vassallo, M. Calleja 1, A. Arrigo, S. Cini.

Ta' Xbiex
A. Bianchi, J.J. Tabone, M. Manara 1, K. Sciortino, K. Engerer, W. Privitera, P. Paolella, R. Polacik, T. Debono, C. Zammit, J. Surim, A. Tanti, D. Pisani 1, G. Buttigieg Desira.

Referees: I. Sciriha, R. Spiteri.

Sirens 11
San Giljan 7
(4-2, 1-2, 3-3, 3-0)

There were victories for Sirens Centro Casalinga, Marsascala Ocean and Sky and Exiles Elle-et-Vire over San Giljan Tropicana, Otters and Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise respectively in yesterday's matches.

The most expected encounter of the afternoon was between the St Paul's Bay team and the Saints from Balluta Bay which the northerners wrapped up in their favour thanks to greater solidity and better co-ordination in set play mostly shown in the last session.

Sirens had a better start, taking a 4-2 first session advantage, with their players taking most of the chances that came their way. San Giljan reacted and reduced the gap to 5-4 in the next quarter as tactics by both teams were mainly based on press.

Paul Privitera (four goals) and Paul Fava (three) were causing problems for the respective rearguards, the former in the centre and the Saints' man with his shooting.

Six goals were shared in the third session and that left the match well poised for an interesting showdown. However, the northerners pulled away after the Saints missed a glorious chance to make it eight-all and three more goals by Sirens left the issue beyond the reach of San Ġiljan.

It is to be noted that Sirens yesterday made use of a new foreign player from Serbia, Predrag Zimonjic, who, as far as is known, was only registered in the past few days after Attila Baranyi returned to his country for personal reasons.

Sirens
A. Grech, R. Mock, T. Galea, P. Privitera 4, A. Babay 2, P. Zimonjic 2, J. Borg, D. Cutajar, K. Montfort 2, R. Scerri, C. Mercieca 1, P. Borg, J. Sammut, A. Attard, J. Cremona.

San Giljan
D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro 1, R. Gospodinov 2, M. Pace, A. Bianchi, M. Zammit, E. Arrigo, V. Kreckovic 1, A. Borda, P. Fava 3, J. Xerri de Caro, K. Lanzon.

Referees: P. Balzan, F. Gomez.

Next fixtures

Friday: 6.15 p.m. Ta' Xbiex vs Marsascala; 7.30 p.m. Sirens vs Sliema.

Saturday: 4 p.m. Otters vs Ta' Xbiex; 5.15 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Exiles; 6.30 p.m. Neptunes vs San Giljan.