In a match which only had statistical records at stake, Exiles Ferretti picked their first spoils of the season at the expense of Sirens Ritter Sport, thus ending their league commitments on a satisfactory note after their 15-11 victory.
More versatility and contemplation at crucial stages of the game accounted for Exiles’ victory.
Sirens, on their part, lacked the necessary conviction even when they should have had a material edge when Exiles had the influential Aleksander Radovic expelled for good early into the third session.
It was three goals apiece after the first quarter, with Exiles managing to neutralise a 3-1 disadvantage.
The northerners, for whom Csaba Kiss was missing and replaced by their third foreigner, Aleksandar Njegovan, conceded the initiative to their opponents for whom Radovic and Vojislav Cupic reached a hat-trick as the sides changed ends with Exiles 8-5 ahead.
Sirens had been guilty of some loose marking on the opposing dangermen who lost no time in exploiting the space afforded.
Aurelien Cousin’s team conserved their three-goal advantage after sharing six goals with their opponents in the third session despite having Radovic fouled out.
The Exiles’ foreigner was followed by Julian Rizzo Naudi and Njegovan early in the last quarter.
However, the team from Sliema succeed in administering their lead with left-hander Cupic netting two more to make it five goals, one more than Arpad Babaj for the opposing team.
After some inactive years which were reignited three seasons ago, Valletta were in celebratory mood yesterday as they marked their double winning year with festivities after being presented with the First Division championship cup.
Their final league commitment against Ta’ Xbiex Amigos was the competitive prelude to what the club had planned for a festive occasion.
Their squad, led by the Valletta-bred Anthony Farrugia, was the centre of attraction at the National Pool yesterday especially after their captain Simon Cachia was presented with the league prize by Peter Perotti, BOV chief officer, flanked by ASA president Joe Caruana Curran.
As for the match the basis for their victory was primarily laid in the opening session during which they established a 6-0 advantage.
After that a dose of over-confidence coincided with some combative fare from Ta’ Xbiex, for whom Autis Zammit netted six goals.
Another flurry in the last quarter ensured that the City team ended their commitments with a huge victory, with all their fringe players having a taste of the proceedings as attested by ten units on their scorers’ list.
Summaries
Sirens 11
Exiles 15
(3-3, 2-5, 3-3, 3-4)
Sirens : A. Grech, Z. Mizzi 2, I. Riolo, J. Napier, A. Babay 4, A. Njegovan 2, J. Borg, D. Cutajar 2, A. Zarb Cousin, A. Attard 1, S. Micallef, G. Debono, J. Cremona.
Exiles : I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, S. Vassallo 1, D. Pace Lupi, N. Portelli, A. Radovic 3, J. Spiteri Staines 2, V. Cupic 5, L. Borg, P. Borg 3, S. Galea Pace, D. Borg, K. Lanzon.
Referees: M. DeChiara, P. Balzan.
Ta’ Xbiex 13
Valletta 22
(0-6, 5-5, 5-3, 3-8)
Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, L. Pace, A. Galea 1, A. Galea 1, M. Asciak 1, K. Galea, M. Paris, P. Markoch 3, R. Attard, A. Zammit 6, C. Pace 1.
Valletta: R. Sciortino, S. Meli 2, R. Calleja 2, M. Korolija 3, N. Bonello Ghio, S. Cachia 1, M. Cordina 1, C. Zammit 4, J.C. Farrugia 1, R. Scerri 2, A. Arrigo 1, D. Filipovic 5, Z. Sciberras.
Referees: R. Spiteri, P. Giordano.
Playing today
16.45 Marsascala vs ASA U-17; 18.00 Otters vs Marsaxlokk. 19.15 San Ġiljan vs Neptunes.