Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate maintained their hopes of landing silverware this season when their power play accounted for a very comfortable 15-6 victory over Sirens Ritter Sport and an eventual berth in the Premier Division Knock Out final.
Despite employing costly man-to-man tactics, the Blues were good enough to ease their way to victory with no fewer than nine of their units figuring on their scorers’ list which was spearheaded by John Soler with three goals.
All-pitch close marking from the Blues was very much evident. They led at the end of the first eight minutes through goals from Soler and Gergely Kiss.
With Ryan Coleiro saving a penalty from Arpad Babay and Sirens tossing away their fifth man-up set Sliema scored three times despite also missing twice on numerical advantage.
The Blues had a good 5-1 base by the halfway mark with their goals coming from Michael Spiteri Staines and Edward Aquilina twice.
Within less than two minutes into the third session, Sirens pulled back two goals through Babay and Andrew Zarb Cousin to make it 5-3. But Sirens missed more extra-man sets.
That was the definite twist to the match as Peter Decesare’s team scored five times in succession for a comfortable 10-3 advantage with a session left.
The Blues were now in command. Sirens’ woes continued when they had a man more in the water. By this time, Jurgen Borg had to quit with substitution.
Sliema added five more in the last quarter and could afford to relax as their opponents scored three.
The First Division semi-final between Marsascala Mor€ and Ta’ Xbiex Amigos was resolved in favour of the southerners in another tight duel which was extended to extra-time with Luke Caruana scoring the winner 41 seconds from time.
Ta’ Xbiex were twice caught up early on but took a 4-2 first session lead.
A goal-laden second quarter went Marsascala’s way on 5-4 with Yuri Szeles scoring a poker after which eventually brought his tally to six.
The teams changed end with Ta’ Xbiex 8-7 in front. But Marsascala recovered to go 10-8 ahead as Joseph Cremona, scorer of four goals, netted his third.
Rheinhard Attard gave Ta’ Xbiex hope when he made it 10-9 with the last session left.
It was the turn of Ta’ Xbiex to go in front on 12-11 before Cremona levelled the scores to force extra-time.
Meanwhile, the influential Joseph Kayes had been fouled out in the last session. Then came Caruana’s salvo for Marsascala to put his team in the final.
Summaries
Sliema 15
Sirens 6
(2-0, 3-1, 5-2, 5-3)
Sliema : R. Coleiro, D. Buric 1, N. Lubrano 1, T. Sullivan, M. Meli 2, J. Soler 3, G. Kiss 2, E. Aquilina 2, J. Brownrigg 2, J. Gabaretta, D. Paolella 1, M. Spiteri Staines 1, D. Abela.
Sirens : A. Grech, Z. Mizzi, M. Grech 1, J. Napier, A. Babay 2, C. Kiss, J. Borg, D. Cutajar 1, A. Zarb Cousin 1, G. Merten, S. Micallef 1, G. Debono, J. Cremona.
Refs: L. Castagnola, M. Dalli.
Marsascala 13
Ta’ Xbiex 12
(Aet; 2-4, 5-4, 3-1, 2-3, 0-0, 1-0)
Marsascala : K. Schembri, K. Rizzo Naudi 1, M. Pace 1, B. Muscat, J. Kayes 2, L. Grixti 2, G. Hedegus 1, J. Cremona 4, G. Desira Buttigieg, A. Sammut 1, D. Cassar, C. Mifsud, L. Caruana 1.
Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, J. Navarro, A. Galea 1, T. Galea 1, M. Spiteri, M. Asciak, K. Galea, M. Paris 1, P. Paris, P. Markoch 1, R. Attard 1, O. Zammit 1, Y. Szeles 6.
Refs: P. Balzan, R. Spiteri.
Playing today
18.00 Valletta vs Marsaxlokk; 19.15 Neptunes vs Exiles.