Sirens secure last-four berth

Sirens Ritter Sport’s comeback, after being well in arrears at one stage in the first leg against San Ġiljan Giuseppe’s, proved to be providential as they built on that psychological boost to run clear winners yesterday.

In the process, their aggregate 23-19 victory earned Sirens a two-legged semi-final berth against Neptunes Emirates with the first being played on Monday.

The northerners were superior in many aspects, not least in their man-up sheet when scoring three out of four sets.

The Saints were lost in a maze in this respect, scoring four from their 12 numerical advantages.

Sirens made a bright start, imposing their authority over opponents who were constantly caught napping in the hot zone.

Goals from Peter Borg, who eventually netted four, Csaba Kiss and Ryan Mock gave them a stable 3-0 platform at the end of the first quarter.

Close marking from both sides resulted in few shots at goal at this stage, apart from a bullet from Kiss who made it 4-0.

Suddenly, Nicola Sutic, Filip Trajkovic and Charlie Zammit found their shooting form, with the Saints pulling back a goal for a 6-4 scoreline in favour of Sirens at mid-point.

San Ġiljan were squandering most of their man-ups but, at least, they converted their last two in the third session for an 8-6 scoreline before a misplaced pass handed Borg a chance to make it 9-6.

In the last session, it was an uphill task but Sirens held the upperhand even after Andrea Bianchi reduced the gap to 9-7. But then, three goals set the seal on the result with Karl Galea’s goal for the Saints proving futile.

In the other match of the day Marsascala meat.com made a good step towards the final when they dismissed Valletta Dhalia 11-7, a margin which could secure them progress in the competition.

Marsascala were superior in the initial stages, an edge which was further sealed after the expulsion for good in the second session of the influential Adam Decker.

In the opening session, the southseasiders twice took the lead before they made it 3-1 only for a late goal, the second from newcomer Robert Kovacs, to reduce the City team’s deficit to a single goal.

Until then, little was seen from heavyweights Decker and Milos Koralji, with their reciprocal marking neutralising any danger they could pose.

But Decker was controversially dismissed with substitution leaving his team severely handi-capped.

It was the turn of Timmy Agius to take up marking duties of the Serb. Meanwhile, the elusive Ranier Scerri made it four personal goals with John Licari adding another for an 8-4 lead at the end of the third session.

Three more goals from Pierre Borg’s team made it a comfortable 11-4 for them, before as many replies from Valletta closed the gap to four goals to improve their chances ahead of Wednesday’s second leg.

Summaries

Valletta 7
Marsascala 11
(2-3, 1-2, 1-3, 3-3)

Valletta: A. Sammut, A. Decker, M. Camilleri, C. Bonello 2, G. Sammut, S. Cachia, A. Galea 1, K. Hyzler, R. Kovacs 2, K. Micallef, A. Arrigo, G. Ghirxi, T. Agius 2.

Marsascala: E. Arrigo, C. Spiteri de Barro, M. Pace 2, Mil. Koralji 1, D. Caruana, S. Farrugia, J. Licari 2, J. Cremona, S. Micallef, R. Scerri 4, D. Cassar, O. Zammit, Mih. Koralji 2.

Referees: M. Dalli, P. Giordano.

Sirens 12
San Ġiljan 8
(3-0, 3-4, 3-2, 3-2 – agg: 23-19)

Sirens: J. Sammut, A. Attard, P. Mi-callef, P. Borg 4, S. Kiss 2, R. Mock 1, J. Borg, D. Cutajar, G. Krstonosic 2, C. Zammit 1, L. Caruana, D. Zammit, C. Mercieca 2.

S. Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, J.C. Cutajar, A. Borda, K. Galea 1, F. Trajkovic 2, K. Dow-ling 1, L. Grixti, A. Bianchi 1, N. Sutic 3, C. Gialanze, P. Fava, A. Galea, K. Schembri.

Referees: S. Licari, F. Ricciotti.