There was no stopping San Ġiljan Sir Alex yesterday as they scored their expected win over Exiles Ferretti even if their victory margin was closer than they expected.
Sensing that championship success could be behind the door, the Saints won the match against opponents who battled honestly but struggled in the second session after which they battled manly but could not recover against their superior opponents from across St Julian’s Bay.
The league leaders laboured to find their scoring touch in the opening session and it was only towards the end that they scored twice for a 3-1 advantage after Exiles had opened the scoring.
It was a different story in the next quarter. Sergio Afric’s team were not so wasteful and scored six to their opponents’ two as Marco Avra-movic reached his hat-trick, with Matthew Zamit and Peter Biros scoring a brace for a 9-3 lead at the halfway mark.
The Saints’ edge was still evident in the third quarter despite a thinner 3-2 scoreline in their favour.
Karl Galea made his usual scoring contribution to net a brace, as did Matthew Zammit earlier, with Biros also reaching the three-goal mark.
Shortly into the last session two-goal Alexander Radovic was fouled out and that made Exiles’ position even more precarious. However, they held their own against their slightly complacent opponents to win the session 4-2 and limit their deficit to just five goals.
The Saints were more intent on their forthcoming battle ahead against Neptunes.
Missing the firing system of Yuri Szeles for the second consecutive game, Ta’ Xbiex were unable to prevent Marsaxlokk from registering their first win of the season.
The scoring tandem of Peter and Robert Kovacs, who shared ten goals between them, could not be emulated by their opponents despite the scoring opportunism of four-goal Andreas Galea and the expertise of Peter Markoch.
A high-scoring first session ended with Marsaxlokk 7-4 in front after they had overturned an opening 2-0 deficit. The three-goal lead was reduced two after Ta’ Xbiex won the second quarter 3-2 for a 9-7 score by half-time.
Eight goals were shared in the third session and that left Marsaxlokk still two goals in front.
The southseasiders extended their lead by another goal when winning the last session despite conceding a momentary equaliser on 13-13.
Summaries
Marsaxlokk 16
Ta’ Xbiex 13
(7-4, 2-3, 4-4, 3-2)
Marsaxlokk : N. Scerri, L. Friggieri, M. Agius, E. Meli 2, K. Mock 2, A. Galea, C. Bugeja 1, R. Kovacs 5, P. Kovacs 5, T. Camilleri 1, J. Fenech, G. Zammit.
Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, L. Pace, A. Galea 4, T. Galea 1, S. Cini 1, M. Asciak, K. Pace, M. Paris 2, P. Paris, P. Markoch 3, R. Attard 2, A. Zammit.
Refs: M. Angileri, S. Licari.
Exiles 9
San Ġiljan 14
(1-3, 2-6, 2-3, 4-2)
Exiles : I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi 3, S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi, N. Portelli, A. Radovic 2, J. Spiteri Staines 1, V. Cupic 2, L. Borg, P. Borg, S. Galea Pace, D. Borg, K. Lanzon 1.
San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, J.C. Cutajar, C. Gialanze 1, K. Galea 2, K. Dowling, M. Zammit 3, M. Avramovic 3, A. Bianchi, C. Spiteri de Barro, P. Biros 3, P. Fava, D. Zammit 2, J. Sammut.
Refs: P. Balzan, D. Rotondano.