With statistical records and prestige only at stake, Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate breezed through to score a huge 23-11 victory over bottom-placed Exiles Ferretti, yesterday.
The Blues’ game-plan, based on closed marking and fast-forward movement, had no answer from Exiles.
Sliema were after sharpening their offensive weapons in view of their impending KO final against Neptunes Emirates on Tuesday.
A 6-2 advantage by the first quarter gave Sliema a solid base with Jerome Gabarretta, who eventually netted four goals, scoring a hat-trick in this session.
With Exiles utterly disjointed, the Blues kept piling the score and by the half-way mark the lead was 13-5. It was time for Sliema’s tailenders to come into the frame including goalkeeper David Abela.
At this point, Exiles took their chances to make the deficit less gaping after winning this quarter 4-2.
Sliema were back in scoring mode in the last eight minutes as they hit in eight goals to reach this season’s record total of 23.
Their guns had been too heavy for Exiles.
In the opening match of the evening, Marsascala Mor€ practically made sure of the runner-up position in the First Division league when they defeated fellow southseasiders Marsaxlokk 21-10.
Despite some casual play by Pierre Borg’s team, Marsaxlokk were outclassed with goal spurts in the first and third sessions being the high point of Marsascala’s performance.
For them Joseph Kayes scored six goals followed by four each from Karl Rizzo Naudi and Gabor Hegedius, with Edward Meli helping himself to a nap-hand for the losers.
Summaries
Sliema 23
Exiles 11
(6-2, 7-3, 2-4, 8-2)
Sliema : R. Coleiro, D. Buric 3, N. Lubrano, T. Sullivan, M. Meli 3, J. Soler 3, G. Kiss 3, E. Aquilina 3, J. Brownrigg 3, J. Gabarretta 4, D. Paolella, M. Spiteri Staines 1, D. Abela.
Exiles : I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo 1, D. Pace Lupi 1, N. Portelli, A. Radovic 3, J. Spiteri Staines, V. Cupic 3, K. Grixti 1, P. Borg 2, S. Galea Pace, D. Borg, K. Lanzon.
Refs: A. DeRaffaele, G. Fusco.
Marsascala 21
Marsaxlokk 10
(7-2, 3-3, 6-1, 5-4)
Marsascala : K. Schembri, K. Rizzo Naudi 4, J. Busuttil, B. Muscat, J. Kayes 6, L. Grixti 2, J. Licari 1, J. Cremona, G. Hegedius 4, A. Sammut 1, D. Cassar 1, C. Mifsud, L. Caruana 2.
Marsaxlokk : M. Scerri, L. Friggieri, M. Agius, E. Meli 5, K. Grech 1, K. Mock, A. Galea, R. Kovacs 1, P. Kovacs 2, T. Camilleri 1, J. Fenech.
Referees: Ronnie Spiteri, Peter Giordano.
Today's fixtures
16.45 Ta’ Xbiex vs ASA U-17
18.00 Otters vs Valletta
19.15 Sirens vs Neptunes