Sliema 8
Sirens 5
(2-2, 1-0, 3-3, 2-0)

Enjoying a slight edge in resilience and craft, Sliema McDonald's managed to pull away from Sirens Centro Casalinga in the last minute of yesterday's first match to keep very much alive their hopes of wresting the title from Neptunes Vodafone.

There was little between the two teams in the first three sessions even if in John Soler the Blues always had a winning card, his four goals evidence of this.

Sirens, who played throughout without goalkeeper Alan Grech, fought back to cut the deficit to a single goal after twice trailing by three goals with veteran Charlie Zammit and the improving Ryan Mock each scoring a brace.

But in the last session, the Blues' superior fighting qualities emerged as the useful Michael Rizzo and Soler ensured victory with two late goals.

Sliema: J. Cachia, M. Spiteri Staines, J. Spiteri Staines, M. Rizzo 1, M. Meli, J. Soler 4, D. Paolella 1, J. Brownrigg, C. Debono, J. Valletta 2, N. Lubrano, M. Manara, J. Gabaretta.

Sirens: J. Sammut, S. Aquilina, A. Galea, T. Debono, R. Mock 2, J. Borg, D. Cutajar 1, O. Zammit, C. Zammit 2, C. Mercieca, D. Zammit, A. Grech.

Referees: P. Balzan, M. Caruana.

Neptunes 11
San Ġiljan 7
(2-2, 2-3, 2-1, 5-1)

A bold display from San Ġiljan fell short of causing neighbours Neptunes some embarrassment as they were forced to grind their teeth in the last session of the second match to finally blow away their gallant opponents who were led from the bench by the former Reds' assistant coach Karl Izzo.

The Saints caused problems for Neptunes whose coach John Paris this time did not go for full rotation of his players in the squad, playing with most of his established men throughout.

It had been pretty even in the first two sessions before San Ġiljan went ahead 6-4 in the third session.

This was the clarion call for Neptunes to pull their sleeves up.

Nicky Gouder finally reappeared in the third session after missing the previous two matches, and with Edward Cachia also in the water the Reds opened the throttle to cruise to victory after winning the last quarter 5-1.

Niki Lanzon and Matthew Pisani showed their colleagues the way by each netting a hat-trick.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 3, T. Agius, K. Galea 1, E. Cachia 1, B. Giorgio, J. Camilleri 1, Z. Mizzi, R. Attard, K. Micallef, R. Sciortino, M. Stellini 2, M. Pisani 3.

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, C. Gialanze 2, C. Bugeja, M. Borg Spiteri 1, A. Bianchi 2, C. Spiteri de Barro 1, P. Micallef, M. Pace 1, A. Borda, P. Fava, K. Schembri, K. Lanzon.

Referees: M. Dalli, I. Sciriha.

Exiles 11
Marsascala 7
(5-3, 2-0, 1-3, 3-1)

In yesterday's final match, valid for the minor placings in the Winter League, Exiles had the better of Marsascala 11-7.

Again, it was a duel in which the winners had to rely on a late surge to obtain their spoils after having their earlier four-goal leads, on 7-3 and 8-4, trimmed down to the slenderest advantage as John Licari proved deadly with his shooting.

His four goals, the last of which came at the beginning of the final session, were, however, equalled by Timmy Sullivan for Exiles with his team-mate David Pace Lupi also proving useful with a hat-trick.

It had looked balanced in a high-scoring opening session with the Southseasiders coming back only for Exiles to end with a flourish.

Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, K. Rizzo Naudi, D. Pace Lupi 3, T. Sullivan 4, S. Cini, S. Vassallo, K. Grixti 1, A. Zarb Cousin, K. Enriquez 1, A. Arrigo, D. Borg, M. Calleja 1.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, P. Borg 1, M. Borg, K. Sciortino, G. Ghirxi 1, L. Grixti, J. Licari 4, J. Cremona, S. Micallef 1, R. Cutajar, D. Cassar, M. Spiteri.

Referees: M. Angilleri, R. Spiteri.

Next fixtures

April 19: 10 a.m. Sliema vs San Ġiljan; 11.15 a.m. Neptunes vs Sirens; 12.30 Exiles vs ASA U-20.