The Sirens Ritter Sport-Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate match had a bizarre ending as excitement turned into a turbulent finish with prolonged contestations making for total mayhem.
With 0.1 seconds left and the Blues leading 11-10, Sirens were awarded a penalty after two consecutive exclusions in their favour followed by a third major foul by a defender. Sliema protested hotly and repeatedly but the referees stuck to their decision.
With Christian Presciutti preparing to take the five-metre throw the opposing Sliema players were too close to him and clearly intent on distracting the Sirens player.
After protracted efforts by the referees to ensure that the distance from the taker was observed, the ball apparently slipped off Presciutti’s hand with his team-mates hotly contending that he was distracted by the player behind him.
As it turned out, the Blues were relieved to come out unscathed from a match which was brimming with excitement as the St Paul’s Bay team fought gallantly throughout to cut a leeway that at times during the third and fourth sessions was extended to three goals.
The 10-7 lead by Vince Balasz’s team was finally neutralised before John Soler popped up to make it 11-10 with just over three minutes left.
Then came the turbulent ending with the incidents marring a match that was brimming with heart-throbbing moments.
The next clash between Exiles Ferretti and San Ġiljan All Care Insurance was in stark contrast to the match that preceded it as the Saints chalked up a comprehensive 18-6 win over Exiles who were unable to repeat their fine performance when they held Sliema last week.
The Saints’ edge was unquestionable considering their superior team play sparked by the potent Matthew Zammit, scorer of a nap-hand of goals and complemented by their foreign duo of Alexander Radovic and Zejlko Kovacic who netted eight.
A relatively close first quarter was followed up by some determined fare from the team guided by Sergio Afric who made use of all the units in his squad. Ten goals in the middle sessions against one conceded put the contest beyond Exiles’ reach.
San Ġiljan have now closed the points gap from leaders Neptunes to four lengths and with that they revived hopes of maintaining a stern challenge for the league title.
Sirens 10
Sliema 11
(1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-2)
Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Mizzi 1, C. Presciutti 3, G. Pace 1, M. Grech, C. Kiss 3, M. Caruana, D. Cutajar, J. Napier, E. Aquilina 2, L. Caruana, A. Sammut, M. Pisani.
Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 2, N. Lubrano, T. Sullivan, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 3, J. Borg, C. Cluett 2, J. Brownrigg, A. Attard, I. Basara 1, A. Petkovic 2, K. Schembri.
Referees: M. Angileri, F. Tempest.
Exiles 6
San Ġiljan 18
(2-3, 0-4, 1-6, 3-5)
Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, S. Vassallo 1, D. Pace Lupi, G. Katonas 2, S. Galea Pace, J. Spiteri Staines, K. Grixti 1, L. Sekulic 1, P. Borg, B. Lanzon, D. Borg, K. Lanzon.
San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri De Barro, A. Galea 1, Karl Galea, K. Dowling 1, M. Zammit 5, A. Radovic 4, A. Bianchi, Keith Galea, Z. Kovacic 4, P. Fava 2, D. Zammit 1, J. Sammut.
Referees: De Raffaele, S. Scollo.