In the first match of yesterday morning’s programme at the National Pool, Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate beat Valletta United by a 9-7 scoreline, with the last goal coming with just two minutes left.

With newcomers Alex Attard and Jurgen Borg, from Sirens, and a full squad, the Blues appeared to be the stronger side on paper against a team made up mostly of Sliema-bred players but lacking Sean Meli, Michael Cordina and Simon Cachia in a ten-man team list.

Nevertheless, the City team’s resistance was commendable as only a goal separated them from their more-fancied opponents until the dying minutes.

It was balanced in the opening quarters and after Sliema took a 2-0 lead, Valletta levelled before twice nosing ahead, only for the Blues to even matters each time.

In the third session, Mark Meli and John Soler, for the Blues, and Rainier Scerri, for the City team, were fouled out. However, Paul Privitera’s wider resources and opportunistic goals helped Sliema take an 8-5 lead by the end of the penultimate session.

Resistance levels dipped, es-pecially Valletta’s. But that did not prevent them from bowing out gallantly after John Brownrigg scored the last of his two goals.

The second duel ended with the strong San Ġiljan Allcare Insurance team, minus Christian Gialanze and Karl Galea, easing away to a 15-4 victory over Sirens Ritter Sport, for whom coach Bogdan Rath made his debut.

Sirens also had newcomer Matthew Pisani and a couple of younger faces in the water to make up for the departure of Attard and Borg.

The Saints had Matthew Zam-mit in his usual scoring mood.

San Ġiljan were always in the driving seat. They took a 4-1 first session lead and opened a 7-2 gap by the end of the second, with their ace-scorer already on a hat-trick.

Zammit was, however, kept on hold for a while since he had been caught on two personal faults.

His re-inclusion brought him another brace, but Sirens stopped the rot momentarily in the third part of the game, with the useful Zac Mizzi completing his hat-trick.

Although coach Sergio Afric put in more fringe players in the final quarter, the Saints scored six times without reply to seal a comfortable victory.

Summaries

Valletta United 7
Sliema 9

(1-2, 3-2, 1-4, 2-1)

Valletta: R. Sciortino, M. Spiteri Staines (1), N. Bonello Ghio (1), R. Mock, D. Paolella, C. Zammit (2), C. Debono (1), R. Scerri (2), J.C. Farrugia, D. Abela.

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabaretta,N. Lubrano (1), T. Sullivan (1), M. Meli (1), J. Soler, J. Borg, C. Cluett (1), J. Brownrigg (2), E. Aquilina (1), A. Attard (2), N. Bugelli, K. Schembri.

Refs: A. DeRaffaele, M. Dalli.

San Ġiljan 15

Sirens 4

(4-1, 3-1, 2-2, 6-0)

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri DeBarro, A. Galea, K. Mock, K. Dowling (1), M. Zammit (5), K. Galea (1), A. Bianchi (2), B. Plum-pton (2), J.C. Cutajar (1), P. Fava, D. Zammit (2), J. Sammut (1).

Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Mizzi (3), A. Camenzuli, G. Pace, M. Grech, A. Sammut, M. Caruana, D. Cutajar (1), J. Napier, M. Agius, L. Caruana, G. Debono, M. Pisani.

Refs: P. Balzan, M. Angileri.