Versatile Blues keep winning streak

Sirens 9
Sliema 13
(2-1, 1-6, 2-2, 4-4)

Sliema McDonald's and Exiles Elle-et-Vire collected maximum points at the expense of Sirens Centro Casalinga and Marsaxlokk Freeport yesterday, with the Blues consolidating their position at the top of the standings.

In fact the team from Għar id-Dud underlined their versatility and optimal use of their manjack at their disposal.

Yet again, a goalspree, this time in the second session, which they won 6-1, was the turning point of this duel. From then on, and with Sirens losing Arfad Babay who was excluded with substitution early in the third session, the result was practically sealed despite Sirens' disposition to make a fight of it, the definite exclusion in the last session of Marthon Toth and Edward Aquilina and Predrag Zimonjic's nap hand of goals.

Sliema went ahead but Sirens came back to take a 2-1 lead in the first quarter. The Blues levelled matters soon after the restart but then pressed the accelerator to score five further goals as timely breaks raptured the northerners' defence.

Goals at either end helped Sliema maintain their lead on 9-7 before the third session was up. With Babay already fouled out that made it even stiffer for Sirens to mount a rescue operation.

The Blues' better array of potential scorers, their superior man-up statistic, despite having won half as many expulsions in their favour as Sirens had, and their timely breaks proved too much for Sirens.

More than that, Sliema's third foreigner, Otto Frick, scorer of five goals, was another shining light.

Sirens
A. Grech, R. Mock, A. Galea, P. Privitera 1, A. Babay 1, P. Zimonjic 5, J. Borg, D. Cutajar 1, K. Montfort 1, R. Scerri, C. Mercieca, P. Borg, J. Sammut, A. Attard, P. Micallef.

Sliema
J. Cachia, M. Toth, E. Aquilina, R. Fodor 1, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 2, D. Paolella 1, J. Brownrigg 1, C. Debono, J. Valletta 2, N. Lubrano, O. Frick 5, J. Gabaretta, J. Falzon, R. Coleiro.

Referees: L. Bianco, I. Sciriha.

Marsaxlokk 9
Exiles 14
(3-2, 3-4, 1-3, 2-5)

In the opening match, Exiles got the verdict over Marsaxlokk thus keeping alive their hopes of laying a strong claim for the Second Division title. They made sure of victory in the last session which they won 5-2.

The contest folded on close lines during the first three sessions, with the lead alternating several times. This made the duel an exciting one for the best part of the game.

The southerners took an initial 3-1 advantage but soon Exiles got back into the scheme of things as Julian Rizzo Naudi and Martin Calleja each scored twice.

It was cat and mouse from then on until late in the third session, when Exiles' superior speed helped them take a 9-7 lead before the last quarter started.

Moreover, their better resilience helped them extend that advantage further to 14-9 to make it a deserved victory.

Marsaxlokk
R. Bonnici, S. Cachia, G. Attard, A. Farrugia, K. Farrugia, C. Bugeja, D. Schembri 4, D. Vancevich, S. Frolov 3, E. Bonello 1, G. Ghirxi, M. Zammit 1, C. Sciortino, M. Buttigieg.

Exiles
A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi 2, K. Rizzo Naudi 1, D. Pace Lupi 3, T. Sullivan 2, R. Blari 2, M. Rizzo 2, K. Grixti, A. Zarb Cousin, A. Cousin, K. Enriquez, A. Arrigo, M. Calleja 2, A. Cachia, S. Cini.

Referees: M. Dalli, M. Caruana.

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