An endless number of missed opportunities, for which credit should also be given to Exiles Jet Services' promising goalkeeper Alan Borg Cole, must have haunted San Ġiljan Firetech as they surprisingly came a cropper when facing the team from across the bay in yesterday morning's first match at Tal-Qroqq.
Trailing 8-2 midway through the third session and after the Saints had fumbled several opportunties, Marco Risso's team were handed a thin lifeline when scoring twice before the end of the third quarter to make it 8-4.
Until then, Exiles had played to a perfect tactical plan and could hardly be unlocked in defence.
San Ġiljan, who had incredibly also tossed away a penalty through the much-feared Heiko Nossek, tried to salvage their pride.
Exiles, without Timmy Sullivan (fouled out in the third session), were showing signs of wilting as the Saints pulled back another three goals thanks to Marton Toth.
Exiles had also squandered a double-man advantage before Aurelien Cousin made it 9-7 with 90 seconds left.
Claudio Spiteri de Barro's goal a minute later made for a tense finale, with veteran John Paris maintaining his goal-per-match record with a last-gasp conversion.
In the second match, Sirens Ritter Sport brushed aside the challenge of an otherwise improved Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise when winning 20-13.
In a high-scoring game, the Northerners soon took a 5-0 lead only for Marco Manara's team to cut the deficit within reasonable levels, with seven-goal Tamas Varga and Yugoslav Vasovic, on one side, and Dave Gabriel and Tamas Gyrovath on the other, being the scoring protagonists.
At one point, early in the third quarter, it was only 10-7 for Sirens as Ta' Xbiex kept battling on. At the end of the day, it was a clear-cut win by Karl Izzo's boys, many of whom were utilised.
But, Ta' Xbiex must have derived some satisfaction from their bold game-plan.
Summaries
Exiles 10
San Ġiljan 8
(3-1, 4-1, 1-2, 2-4)
Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo, C. Bonca 2, T. Sullivan 1, M. Calleja 1, J. Paris 1, K. Grixti, A. Zarb Cousin 1, A. Cousin 2, J. Fenech, S. Cini 1, K. Lanzon 1, A. Cachia.
San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro 2, M. Pace, K. Galea, C. Gialanze, K. Dowling, H. Nossek 1, A. Bianchi, E. Aquilina, R. Scerri, P. Fava, M. Toth 5, K. Schembri, A. Borda, K. Galea.
Referees: M. Dalli, M. Angilleri.
Sirens 20
Ta' Xbiex 13
(5-3, 5-3, 5-4, 5-3)
Sirens: J. Sammut, A. Attard 1, L. Caruana, P. Borg 1, J. Spiteri Staines, R. Mock 1, T. Varga 7, D. Cutajar 1, J. Borg 2, C. Zammit, Y. Vasovic 4, D. Zammit 1, C. Mercieca 2, E. Arrigo, J. Cremona.
Ta' Xbiex: N. Xuereb, S. Cachia 1, D. Caruana 1, A. Farrugia, G. Lubrano, C. Bugeja, J. Tabone, E. Bonello, D. Gabriel 4, A. Galea 3, I. Azzopardi, M. Spiteri, T. Gyrovath 4, K. Falzon, L. Borg.
Referees: R. Spiteri, S. Licari.
Next matches
Tomorrow: 6 p.m. Exiles vs Marsascala; 7.15 p.m. Sliema vs San Ġiljan.