Victories in yesterday’s matches from the BOV Winter League went to Sliema, Exiles and Sirens respectively.

In the first match of the evening Sliema McDonald’s, strengthened by the presence of long-absentee John Brownrigg, put last weekend’s woeful display against Sirens behind when they overcame a weak Valletta side as easily as the 18-3 scoreline indicates.

Not surprisingly, the result was already beyond doubt early in the match after Sliema built a substantial lead. Thereafter, end with the City team unable to offer any menace, the outcome was only academic as John Soler helped himself to a mammoth seven goals.

When introducing several youngsters, this time, Sergio Afric had the result under his team’s belt.

Many anticipated that the second match between 3CX Exiles and San Ġiljan Giuseppe’s would live up to the expectations of a keen duel. There was balance between the contestants. However, this only lasted until the third session with the scoreline on 10-7 in favour of Exiles towards the beginning of this quarter.

Exiles had led their opponents by only a goal or two and twice conceded the equaliser. It had been almost ding-dong until then, with ends shifting on 9-7 in favour of Exiles.

But that third part of the match proved to be decisive as the Saints, twice missing penalty throws, finally succumbed to their opponents’ superior cutting edge and consequently fell behind 14-9 with the last quarter left.

At one point they had trailed by seven goals. The last session ended with four goals being shared but that was not enough for San Ġiljan to whittle down the deficit.

The better team had won. Exiles had no fewer than nine scorers on their team sheet even if Matthew Pisani, for the losers, ended as overall top scorer with four goals.

Unbeaten Sirens Ritter Sport were favourites to secure the points against Marsascala meat.com.mt in the last match of the evening.

They did so winning in comfortable manner as shown by the 15-3 scoreline.

A brief period in the second session enabled the northerners to pull away after that it was all downhill for the St Paul’s Bay team for whom Claudio Spiteri de Barro was the main scorer with four goals.

Valletta 3
Sliema 18
(0-5, 1-4, 1-5, 1-4)

Valletta: D. Abela, K. Mock, Ant. Galea 1, M. Asciak, S. Cachia 1, Alan Galea, K. Falzon, K. Scicluna, R. Calleja, A. Arrigo 1.

Sliema: R. Coleiro, N. Bugelli 1, N. Lubrano, P. Privitera 1, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 7, D. Paolella 1, J. Brownrigg 3, C. Debono, M. Fenech, M. Rizzo 3, E. Meli 1, Z. Sciberras.

Referees: S. Licari, P. Balzan.

Exiles 16
San Ġiljan 11
(4-2, 5-5, 5-2, 2-2)

Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi 2, K. Rizzo Naudi 2, D. Pace Lupi 1, T. Sullivan 3, P. Paris, J. Spiteri Staines 3, K. Grixti, P. Borg 1, S. Vassallo 1, M. Paris 1, K. Lanzon 2, J. Pace, S. Galea Pace.

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, J.C. Cutajar, A. Galea 1, Karl Galea 1, Keith Galea 1, K. Dowling 2, A. Bugeja, B. Plumpton, R. Mock, C. Gialanze, P. Fava 2, C. Martin, M. Pisani 4, J. Galea, J. Cremona.

Referees: M. Angileri, M.Dalli.

Marsascala 3
Sirens 15
(1-1, 1-5, 0-5, 1-4)

Marsascala: K. Schembri, M. Pace, I. Borg, L. Grixti, K. Navarro, C. Mifsud, S. Micallef 1, R. Scerri 2, D. Cassar, M. Fenech, B. Muscat Dougall.

Sirens: A.Grech, A. Attard 1, M. Manara , V. Bartolo 1, T. Kusztos, A. Sammut, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar 3, A. Zarb Cousin 2, C. Zammit 1, C. Spiteri de Barro 4, D. Zammit 1, J. Sammut.

Referees: I. Sciriha, P. Giordano.