Luxol 47
Hibs Medsea 43
(3-17, 18-10, 15-11, 11-5)

Luxol are one win away from claiming the championship after an absence of 12 years. On Sunday, they downed reigning champions Hibs Medsea in the first game of the best-of-three series.

Val Drury's girls overcame a shaky start to have the better of Hibs in the final minutes of the match.

As expected, Hibs had veteran Doreen Micallef back but Maria Desira was unavailable as Luxol fielded a standard formation.

Hibs could not have hoped for a better start after potting the opening 12 points. Luxol took seven minutes to open their account from a three-pointer. However, that was all they had to show until the end of the opening session.

Gradually, Luxol grew in confidence, also helped by nine succes-sive points, as Hibs suddenly lost composure and by half-time Luxol's deficit was cut to six points - 27-21.

With Steffi Demartino under tight scrutiny, it was left for Emma Moore and playmaker Beverlee Zammit to lead Luxol's charge but balance prevailed and before the last ten minutes got underway only one point separated the two teams - 37-36 for Hibs.

Hibs opened a five-point lead, 42-37, but Luxol got back into gear to move 44-42 ahead with seven successive points. Hibs were now unable to conclude their attacks and Luxol kept their opponents at a distance to seal victory.

Luxol: E. Moore 12, M. Scortino 5, B. Naudi, S. Demartino 11, P. Ellul, D. Muscat 5, L. Chetcuti, T. Demartino, B. Zammit 14.

Hibs: E. Micallef, E. Cassar, D. Cassar, L. Bezzina 10, F. Tabone, D. Micallef 8, A. Darmanin 8, N. Arrigo, K. Micallef 9, J. Cardona 8.

Final, game 2: Sunday 2.30 p.m.