Although leading almost throughout Sirens Ritter Sport were only able to pull away comfortably three minutes 51 seconds from the end to extend their 11-9 advantage by two further goals, to register a 14-11 victory against a plucky Marsascala.
The Northerners had what appeared on paper to be a stronger outfit, but the southseasiders kept up a decent fight and at times were only one goal behind their opponents. Even when the deficit widened to two or three goals in Sirens' favour, Marsascala refused to buckle, also inspired by some fine saves from Ryan Sciortino in goal.
However, the St Paul's Bay team, for whom Yugoslav Vasovic and Juergen Borg scored a hat-trick each, and Tamas Varga and Ryan Mock each scoring a brace, were displaying all-round shooting skills.
For Anthony Farrugia's team, the outstanding scorers were Botond Szabo and Milos Koralji with three goals each.
Any semblance of resistance Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise could put up against Exiles Jet Services in the second match only lasted until the end of the second quarter. After that the team from Sliema went on a scoring spree, six in the third and eight in fourth session which was started by Julian Rizzo Naudi's hat-trick before he eventually scored another goal.
With Exiles enjoying a reassuring 12-4 lead before the last part of the game began, Joe Caruana Dingli continued to make use of more units, with the contest fizzling out to end decisively in favour of the superior Exiles for whom Cosmin Bonca scored a naphand with his team having no fewer than ten of their players on the scoresheet.
Summaries
Sirens 14
Marsascala 11
(2-2, 5-4, 3-2, 4-3)
Sirens: J. Sammut, A. Attard, L. Caruana, P. Borg 1, J. Spiteri Staines 1, R. Mock 2, T. Varga 2, D. Cutajar, J. Borg 3, C. Zammit 1, Y. Vasovic 3, D. Zammit, C. Mercieca 1, E. Arrigo, J. Cremona.
Marsascala: R. Sciortino, J.C. Cutajar 1, B. Szabo 3, M. Koralji 3, M. Borg Spiteri, L. Grixti 1, J. Licari, J. Cremona 1, S. Micallef 1, T. Agius 1, R. Attard, G. Pace, J. Bonnici, S. Farrugia.
Referees: M. Angilleri, P. Giordano.
Ta' Xbiex 5
Exiles 20
(2-4, 1-2, 1-6, 1-8)
Ta' Xbiex: N. Xuereb, S. Cachia 2, D. Caruana, A. Farrugia, G. Lubrano, C. Bugeja 1, J. Tabone, E. Bonello, D. Gabriel, A. Galea, I. Azzopardi 1, M. Spiteri, T. Gyrovath 1, K. Falzon, L. Borg.
Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi 4, J. Fenech 1, C. Bonca 5, T. Sullivan 2, M. Calleja, J. Paris 1, K. Grixti 1, A. Zarb Cousin 2, A. Cousin 2, S. Vassallo 1, S. Cini 1, K. Lanzon, A. Cachia.
Referees: R. Spiteri, A. DeRaffaele.
Next Matches
Saturday: 16.00 San Ġiljan vs Marsascala; 17.15 Neptunes vs Ta' Xbiex; 18.30 Sliema vs Exiles.