Saints pip Sirens for play-offs

The plum match on yesterday’s programme was the first one between Sirens Ritter Sport and San Ġiljan Giuseppe’s, a duel which was to determine the fourth team to proceed to the semi-finals play-off.

The Saints, yesterday parading their third foreigner for summer, Bodgan Rath, as assistant to coach Karl Izzo, were after no less than maximum points, a result which would edge them past Sirens on the basis of the head-to-head tussle.

They succeeded in their intent when eclipsing the northerners thanks to their 11-9 victory which condemned their opponents from a possible second place to a fifth position.

San Ġiljan had to turn the game around when trailing 6-3 at one stage in the second quarter.

At that point, Sirens were undone by Dino Zammit’s definite expulsion for serious foul play and eventual man down for the next four minutes.

This allowed the Saints to upstage their opponents and nose in front on 7-6. That lead was extended to two goals.

Meanwhile, the influential Sirens left-hander Juergen Borg was also dismissed for good midway through the third session.

Although Sirens closed the gap temporarily, San Ġiljan, led by Paul Fava and Matthew Pisani, as well as hat-trick scorer Karl Galea, saw their ship safely to port.

In vain were the five goals netted by Sirens’ captain David Cutajar.

3CX Exiles, irrespective of the outcome of their last round-robin match against Marsascala meat.com, finished third in the preliminary standings and the right to meet Sliema McDonald’s in the semi-final play-off.

Their 11-4 victory over the southerners, in the second match of the day, only served for statistical purposes.

However, Pierre Borg, at the helm of Marsascala, was a happier man than of late as his team showed marked improvement, at least for the first three sessions, as they were also helped by John Licari who was making his first appearance for the team this year.

Exiles shrugged off their casualness in the last session to win comfortably.

The round robin series of matches came to an end with the last encounter between leaders Neptunes Emirates and Valletta.

It was another futile duel in terms of standings, with the Reds consigning their opponents to their sixth competitive defeat which leaves them bottom in the table.

Summaries

Sirens 9
San Giljan 11
(4-3, 2-2, 1-4, 2-2)

Sirens: A. Grech, A. Attard, V. Bartolo, I. Spiteri, T. Kusztos, A. Sammut, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar 5, A. Zarb Cousin, C. Zammit 2, C. Spiteri de Barro 1, D. Zammit, J. Sammut.

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, J.C. Cutajar 2, A. Galea, Karl Galea 3, Keith Galea, K. Dowling, A. Bugeja, A. Bianchi 2, B. Mock, C. Gialanze, P. Fava 2, C. Martin, M. Pisani 2.

Referees: S. Licari, M. Angilleri.

Exiles 11
Marsascala 4
(1-2, 2-0, 4-2, 4-0)

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

Marsascala: K. Schembri, M. Pace 1, K. Navarro, L. Griscti, J. Licari 1, C. Mifsud, S. Micallef, R. Scerri 2, D. Cassar, M. Fenech, B. Muscat.

Referees: P. Balzan, R. Spiteri.

Neptunes 14
Valletta 3
(6-1, 2-0, 4-1, 2-1)

Neptunes: R. Sciortino, D. Debattista, E. Aquilina 2, M. Stellini 3, Z. Mizzi 1, G. Pace 1, J. Camilleri 4, K. Debattista, B. Lanzon 1, S. Gravina, T. Agius 1, C. Mercieca 1, I. Bugeja, L. Ellul.

Valletta: A. Sammut, S. Meli, K. Hyzler, A. Galea 1, K. Mock, S. Cachia, A. Galea 1, K. Falzon, K. Scicluna, R. Calleja, A. Arrigo 1, M. Asciaq, D. Spiteri.

Referees: P. Giordano, M. Angileri.

Standings