Sliema McDonald’s took only a short time to assert their complete superiority over Sirens Ritter Sport, who for the second game in succession, suffered a clear-cut defeat.
Indeed, the champions were in deadly scoring form, with all of their manjack releasing themselves to build a reassuring 9-1 advantage by the middle of the second quarter before going into pause-play mode.
As is evident, and barring any surprise defeat for Sliema and Neptunes, it is odds on that these two big names of the local game will fight it out for the championship title.
The Blues were off to a whirlwind 6-1 start as they overran their opponents who had no clue as to proper blocking and far-less ideas when in possession.
Sirens, who included Karl Montfort in their list for the first time this summer, were still no match for Sliema even if they limited the damage to two goals in the second quarter, having lost it 4-2. By then, the irrepressible John Soler and Mark Meli each had four conversions to their credit.
Well-timed breaks from the Blues and the clinical finishing helped them keep their distance despite loosing the third quarter by the odd goal in seven. The result had long been beyond doubt.
The last session was a formality and it was only statistics that mattered as Soler topped the scorers’ list with six goals followed by Meli who netted five.
Having lost their Preliminary Round match 10-8 against Exiles Jet Services, San Ġiljan Firetech infused more aggression in their game against opponents who a few days earlier had given Sliema a stern challenge.
On the day the Saints appeared to be coasting to a comfortable victory against a team that looked stale in the first three sessions.
Then, a surge in the last quarter had the team from Sliema incredibly pull back five goals to level matters on 10-10 with 95 seconds left.
But, in a furious finale, Exiles were dispossessed by Marthon Toth who timed his swim and shot to perfection and net a dramatic winner.
A steadier San Ġiljan, who went for close marking, took a 4-1 lead inside the opening quarter. Marco Risso’s outfit were putting up much better fare against a team which even fumbled a penalty, albeit on a 7-1 adverse scoreline before they eventually started their comeback in that last session.
It was then Exiles’ turn to go for stringent press and in that remarkable comeback, engineered by Frenchman Aurelien Cousin, Cosmin Bonca and Timmy Sullivan, they levelled matters before the Hungarian Toth netted that last-gasp winner for the Saints.
Summaries
San Ġiljan 11
Exiles 10
(4-1, 3-1, 2-2, 2-6)
San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro 2, M. Pace, K. Galea 1, C. Gialanze 1, K. Dowling, H. Nossek 1, A. Bianchi 2, E. Aquilina 1, R. Scerri, P. Fava 1, M. Toth 2, K. Schembri.
Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo, C. Bonca 3, T. Sullivan 3, M. Calleja, J. Paris, M. Paris, A. Zarb Cousin, A. Cousin 4, A. Cachia, S. Cini, K. Lanzon.
Referees: A. DeRaffaele, I. Sciriha.
Sliema 18
Sirens 11
(6-1, 4-2, 3-4, 5-4)
Sliema: A. Bianchi, J. Gabaretta 2, N. Lubrano, P. Privitera, M. Meli 5, J. Soler 6, D. Paoella, J. Brownrigg 1, C. Debono 2, A. Kunac 1, B. Rath 1, R. Coleiro.
Sirens: J. Sammut, A. Attard 2, C. Mercieca 2, P. Borg, J. Spiteri Staines, R. Mock, T. Varga 3, D. Cutajar, K. Montfort 1, C. Zammit, Y. Vasovic 3, D. Zammit, E. Arrigo.
Referees: P. Balzan, M. Angilleri.
Next fixtures
Tomorrow: 18.00 Ta’ Xbiex vs Marsaxlokk; 19.15 Sirens vs Exiles.
Saturday: 17.00 Marsascala vs Otters; 18.15 Neptunes vs San Ġiljan.