Heavy Maltese presence at Major of Mons

Nine Maltese players took part in the Major of Mons, in Belgium, last weekend.

Massimo Cremona, Mark Gauci, Derek Conti, Hansel Mallia and Mario Camilleri competed in the Open and Joseph Mifsud, Jason Pisani and Alfred Fenech played in the section for veterans. Angelo Borg featured in the U-19 event.

Saturday was reserved for the competition for teams which featured 42 entries, among whom Valletta SC who failed to progress from the group stage.

F.illi Bari Reggiana won the Major. In the final, they beat Fiamme Azzurre 2-0. Cremona played for Reggiana and Fiamme had Mifsud and Mallia in the team.

In the knock-out stages, Reggiana beat Atlas, of Greece, 3-1 and Belgium’s Hennuyer 4-0. Fiamme eliminated Stembert (Belgium) 7-6 on goal difference, after a 2-2 draw, and then ousted Bologna in the semi-finals 6-5 on goal difference, after a 1-1 draw.

The singles competition was played on Sunday with 116 players registered to take part.

Cremona and Conti reached the semi-finals. Cremona lost to Greek player Beis 1-0 and Conti was ousted by Wolfgang Leitner, of Austria, 1-4.

Borg left his mark in the U-19 category. He won the event after a 1-0 victory over Dutch player Van Os in the final.

Borg had booked his place in the final after beating another Dutcman, Willeijms, in the semi-finals following a penalty shoot-out.

There were 50 players in the tournament for veterans. Mifsud reached the final but was beaten by Oliever Pere, of Belgium, 1-0 on a golden goal.