On a day when overseas players distinguished themselves when scoring 30 of the 53 goals, San Ġiljan All Care Insurance beat Otters Nivea comfortably while Exiles Ferretti survived a late and bold rally by Marsaxlokk Fischer whose margin of defeat was only two goals – 14-12.
In the first match, the Saints, without the injured Matthew Zammit, their quick-fire scorer, were too good for the Gozitan team and were able to register a clearcut 19-8 victory.
The team guided by Sergio Afric were one goal short of double figures at the long interval as they led 9-1.
More frequent substitutions from the third session onwards prompted Otters into a mini fight-back when reducing the deficit to 10-4. But San Ġiljan, for whom left-hander Aleksander Radovic and Zejlko Kovacic shared five goals between them, made it 14-4 at the end of the penultimate quarter.
Otters did not throw in the towel, though, and only lost the last quarter 5-4.
The re-engaged Ivan Vuksanovic was outstanding with five goals followed by Andrei Edward, also with Otters last year, who grabbed a hat-trick.
In the second match, Marsaxlokk refused to buckle despite being in arrears throughout the proceedings. Their deficit alternated between four and five goals before they staged a remarkable late recovery to come within one goal of levelling matters.
Their foreigner Bence Fulop caught the eye with his opportunism which rewarded him with six goals. Otto Frikk netted a hat-trick.
For Exiles, Gergely Katonas and left-hander Luka Sekulic shared eight of their team’s goals, with Peter Borg following suit with three.
It had looked quite comfortable for Maurizio Mirarchi’s team until some casual play crept in which coincided with their opponents’ spirited play that saw them win the last session 7-4 after having been 10-5 in arrears at the end of the third quarter.
Summaries
San Ġiljan 19
Otters 8
(5-1, 4-0, 5-3, 5-4)
San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri DeBarro 3, A. Galea 1, Karl Galea 2, K. Dowling, B. Plumpton, A. Radovic 2, A Bianchi 2, Keith Galea 2, Z. Kovacic 3, P. Fava 1, D. Zammit 3, J Sammut.
Otters: Z. Sciberras, G. Attard, G. Zammit, K. Scicluna, J. Micallef, J. Paris, D. Schembri, A. Edward 3, S. Dimech, C. Martin, I. Vuksanovic 5, K. Grima Scott.
Referees: S. Licari, M. Angileri.
Exiles 14
Marsaxlokk 12
(3-1, 3-2, 4-2, 4-7)
Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo 1, D. Pace Lupi, G. Katonas 4, S. Galea Pace, J. Spiteri Staines, K. Grixti 1, L. Sekulic 4, P. Borg 3, B. Lanzon, D. Borg, K. Lanzon 1.
Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, A. Agius, B. Fulop 6, A. Galea 1, G. Busuttil, C. Bugeja, M. Fenech 1, S. Xerri De Caro 1, A. Mifsud, O. Frikk 3, A. Arrigo, D. Borg Millo, M. Scerri.
Referees: A. De Raffaele, P. Balzan.