By virtue of their comfortable victory over Valletta Dhalia yesterday, Sirens Ritter Sport boosted their chances of finishing their preliminary commitments in the top positions of Group A, even if the final placings may be determined on the basis of goal difference given that the direct encounters between Exiles, Valletta and Sirens ended in a stalemate.
The much-awaited challenge from the City team failed to materialise as they succumbed to a 17-4 defeat.
Sirens appeared to be better equipped and were soon off the mark, taking a three-goal lead inside the opening quarter. Their edge was never in doubt and a 3-1 second session scoreline in their favour made it a cushion 6-1 advantage for Dorian Pisani’s team by the half-way stage.
The Sirens’ players’ ability to release themselves was never in doubt as was their sharper shooting. They continued pounding their opponents’ fort to make it 12-3 before the last session started.
With Clint Mercieca, Predrag Zimonjic, Balasch Nyeki and Charlie Zammit adding to their personal tally in the last part of the game, the result was sealed on a decisive scoreline.
In the opening match of the evening, 3CX Exiles lived to their potential when easing through to a 22-5 victory against Ta’ Xbiex, a result which reflected the disparity between the two outfits and at the same time keeping the Sliema team’s hopes alive of making it to top-grade waterpolo.
In the first session, Ta’ Xbiex held firmly to restrict Exiles’ advantage to a single goal before Joe Caruana Dingli’s team scored four times in the last 80 seconds for a 5-1 lead.
Ta’ Xbiex continued to fall apart in the next quarter, conceding a hatful of goals to change ends 11-1 adrift.
With Mario Zammit unable to get his boys going, the scoring trend remained pretty much the same with Exiles extending their lead to 17-3 at the three-quarter mark.
It was a matter of formalities at the last part of the game as Exiles sealed their mammoth win, with Marco Cuk scoring seven times.
Summaries
Ta’ Xbiex 5
Exiles 22
(1-5, 0-6, 2-6, 2-5)
Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, J. Tabone, S. Vassallo 1, C. Cluett, D. Borg, B. Muscat, T. Gyrovath 2, E. Bonello, M. Cordina 1, M. Paris, R. Attard, M. Spiteri, Y. Szeles 1.
Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi, K. Rizzo Naudi 1, D. Pace Lupi 1, T. Sullivan 2, M. Calleja 1, M. Cuk 7, K. Grixti 1, A. Zarb Cousin 3, A. Cousin 3, J. Paris 3, A. Sciberras, K. Lanzon.
Referees: R. Spiteri, M. Angilleri.
Valletta 4
Sirens 17
(0-3, 1-3, 2-6, 1-5)
Valletta : A. Sammut, A. Decker 3, K. Hyzler, C. Bonello 1, G. Sammut, S. Cachia, A. Galea, K. Micallef, R. Kovacs, S. Cini, A. Arrigo, G. Ghirxi, T. Agius.
Sirens : J. Sammut, A. Attard 1, P. Micallef, P. Borg 1, B. Nyeki 3, R. Mock, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar 1, P. Zimonjic 3, C. Zammit 3, L. Caruana, D. Zammit, C. Mercieca 4.
Referees: M. Angilleri, M. Dalli.
Next matches
Today: 5.30 p.m. Otters vs Marsascala; 6.45 p.m. Sliema vs San Ġiljan.
Tomorrow: 5.30 p.m. Sirens vs Ta’ Xbiex; 6.45 p.m. Neptunes vs Exiles.