Brave Malta weather fatigue to edge past Great Britain

Malta 12
Great Britain 11
(2-2, 3-4, 4-1, 1-3, 1-0, 1-1)

Malta produced a great performance yesterday to edge past 2012 Olympic Games hopefuls Great Britain for a place in the final of this year's Comen Cup where they will be meeting RN Sori, of Italy.

The Maltese should be commended for breaking the fatigue barrier, mental and physical, against opponents who were never short on strength, speed and shooting power.

Jonathan Valletta, even if he was excluded for good after three personal fouls midway the third session, was again the inspiration behind Malta's showing as he took his chances very well with his shooting from the outside positions five and six.

Yesterday he was followed by Michele Stellini who repaid the faith shown in him by coach Sergio Afric, and Josie Cachia in goal with all the others pulling their weight admirably despite having to perform for the fourth day on the trot.

It was a match of fluctuating fortunes with one team and then the other nosing ahead. Then Malta made a breakthrough towards the end of the third session and the beginning of the fourth to take a three-goal lead on 10-7 courtesy of three extra-man opportunities on five possessions when the Britons were reduced to six men for four minutes after Alex Parsonage was dismissed without substitution for brutality.

But amid some missed opportunities from both sides the visitors fought back to level on 10-10 as the drama unfolded and the match was extended to two extra three-minute periods.

But when just one thought that it would be an anti-climax for the Maltese as weariness would take its toll, the hosts rolled up their sleeves and produced extra bursts of energy and clinical finishing to score the goals that mattered through Stellini and John Soler, before the Britons momentarily reduced the gap.

The round of applause for the Maltese by the appreciative crowd was fully deserved.

Today, against the Italians, they will do with more encourangement from the terraces.

For the record, the Maltese netted eight times from the 15 extra-man sets, and also missed a penalty.

Malta
J. Cachia, N. Lanzon 1, E. Aquilina 1, P. Privitera 1, M. Meli, J. Soler 2, J. Borg, J. Brownrigg 1, C. Debono 1, J. Valletta 2, A. Grech, M. Stellini 3, M. Pisani.

Great Britain
E. Scott, M. Bourne, S. Ryder 4, F. Carpenter 5, C. Figes, J. Waller, A. Parsonage, G. Robinson, R. Parker 2, S. King, J. Wannop, R. Lawlor, M. Holland.

Referee: D. Alabn (France), G. Lodico (Italy).

Other results

Switzerland vs FNC Douai: 8-13 (3-3, 1-4, 2-2, 2-4)
CN Chania vs RN Sori: 6-13 (2-3, 3-5, 0-3, 1-2)

Today's programme

2.30 p.m. FNC Douai vs Cyprus
4 p.m. Great Britain vs CN Chania
5.30 p.m. Malta vs RN Sori