Exiles 10
Ta' Xbiex 7
(1-1, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2)

Exiles registered another win over the small tribe in the preliminary round when they staved off the challenge of Ta' Xbiex.

It was tit for tat in the opening three sessions as Ta' Xbiex drew level every time Exiles forged ahead.

The team from Sliema, however, showed better staying power in the last quarter of the game and sealed their superiority when running out comfortable 10-7 winners.

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

Ta' Xbiex: A. Bianchi, S. Cachia 1, M. Manara, K. Falzon, G. Lubrano, B. Szalma 1, P. Paolella, K. Engerer 1, J. Tabone, E. Aquilina 1, G. Gera, D. Pisani 2, Y. Szeles 1, P. Desira Buttigieg, A. Tanti.

Referees: M. Angilleri, S. Licari.

Marsascala 12
Marsaxlokk 6
(2-1, 3-0, 1-2, 6-3)

Marsascala won the derby of the south when they defeated neighbours Marsaxlokk in the second match of the day.

Anthony Farrugia got his boys on a solid 5-1 platform by the halfway mark. Marsaxlokk looked inferior and could leave little impression despite trimming the deficit to 6-3 by the end of the third quarter.

They could not maintain that mini-comeback and in the final reckoning Botond was allowed to blow his scoring trumpet of six goals.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, P. Borg, J.C. Cutajar, M. Borg 1, G. Ghirxi 1, L. Grixti 1, J. Licari 1, J. Cremona, S. Micallef, R. Cutajar, S. Botond 6, G. Suti 2, M. Spiteri.

Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, G. Attard 1, R. Calleja, A. Farrugia, A. Razzi 1, C. Bugeja 1, M. Bartolotti 1, E. Bonello 2, M. Buttigieg, K. Grima Scott, R. Attard, M. Zammit.

Referees: P. Balzan, M. Caruana.

Playing Today
6.15 p.m. Otters vs Ta' Xbiex;
7.30 p.m. Sirens vs Sliema.

Tuesday
6.15 p.m. Neptunes vs San Giljan