Neptunes eliminate fighting Saints

After their 14-7 victory over San Ġiljan Giuseppe’s, it was odds on that Neptunes Emirates would pro-ceed to the final of the Premier Division BOV KO competition.

However, San Ġiljan yesterday put their hearts into this second leg and fought until the last seconds when they annulled a four-goal deficit only to fall to a goal netted by young Gabriel Pace with just over a second to go.

Given their performance yester-day, the Reds would have to up their game considerably to retain the KO title this summer.

They may have lacked motivation considering their first-leg lead. But the Saints put them to severe test mostly courtesy of Darko Brguljan, scorer of a massive eight goals. They also profited from 11 expulsions but only netted five times against Nep-tunes’ one on six.

This time, it was the Reds who had influential player Alexandar Ciric expelled on three personal faults even if this was midway in the last session.

Meanwhile, veterans John Paris and Duncan Schembri scored the bulk of goals for Otters Nivea against Ta’ Xbiex Amigos in the Gozitans’ 18-12 victory and eventual passage for the first time to the First Division KO final.

Otters, with eight players in their scoring list, made their intentions clear right from the outset when opening a five-goal advantage which was twice extended to seven goals.

Ta’ Xbiex, for whom Laszlo Suranyi netted a naphand of goals, had long thrown in the towel.

Summaries

Otters 18
Ta’ Xbiex 12
(3-0, 4-4, 6-3, 5-5 – agg: 36-27)

Otters: A. Cachia, A. Cachia, G. Zammit, Z. Radocz 1, S. Dimech 1, M. Balatoni 2, J. Paris 4, D. Schembri 6, K. Scicluna, K. Debattista 1, C. Martin 1, E. Farrugia, K. Grima Scott 2.

Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, J. Cremona, A. Galea 1, M. Asciak 1, L. Suranyi 5, C. Bugeja, K. Galea 1, J. Tabone, S. Cini, C. Saliba 1, R. Attard 1, O. Zammit, Y. Szeles 2.

Refs: A. DeRaffaele, M. Angilleri.

San Ġiljan 14
Neptunes 15
(4-4, 2-2, 3-6, 5-3 – agg: 21-29)

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, J.C. Cutajar 1, D. Brguljan 8, K. Galea 1, B. Plump-ton, M. Zammit 1, B. Letica 2, A. Bianchi 1, R. Mock, C. Gialanze, K. Mock, D. Abela, M. Pisani.

Neptunes: I. Bugeja, N. Lanzon 2, E. Aquilina, M. Stellini 2, G. Pace 1, A. Ciric 2, S. Camilleri 4, J. Camilleri, B. Lanzon, S. Gravina, R. Sciortino, T. Molnar 3, C. Mercieca 1.

Refs: M. Dalli, C. Congiu.

Playing today
Div. One SF (2nd leg) 6 p.m. Valletta vs Marsascala (1st leg: 11-13). Premier SF (2nd leg) 7.15 p.m. Sliema vs Sirens (1st leg: 11-9).