Sirens Ritter Sport were made to delve deep into their fighting qualities to finally shake off Valletta McDonald’s stern challenge in yesterday’s relegation pool match which had prestige as its main element given the team’s standings.

However, excitement was not missing as first one team and then the other enjoyed the lead amid some usual contested decisions from both factions.

The result meant that the northerners have now extended their lead to nine points over yesterday’s opponents.

The City team took most of their chances in the opening session as they combined well, with accurate shifting of the ball and deadly finishing.

Three goals in a row from Sirens in the second quarter gave them a 6-5 lead only for Valletta to react and make it 7-6 before goals at each end left them 8-7 ahead by midpoint.

The side under the charge of Anthony Farrugia looked quite comfortable when they made it 9-7 shortly into the third session.

But Sirens regained some sort of momentum to score three goals in succession for a 10-9 advantage into the last eight minutes of the game.

Although goals were at a premium in the final session as only two were shared, excitement never waned, especially after Valletta had trimmed a deficit of 11-9 to one goal.

Sirens held out in those last moments to have the last word over opponents who fought doggedly throughout.

Marsaxlokk Fischer moved to the 14-point mark in the First Division table after defeating bottom team Ta’ Xbiex Amigos 13-8.

It was a deserved victory for a team that displayed the better fare besides maximising on the prolific scoring qualities of Bence Fulope who netted a double hat-trick.

Ta’ Xbiex, led by Peter Markoch in the water, fought as well as they could but in the end they had to bow to superior opponents.

After conceding the first goal Marsaxlokk looked a steadier lot and scored three goals before Ta’ Xbiex pulled one back for a 3-2 first session lead.

It was a similar score in the next eight minutes for a 6-4 advantage at the halfway stage. Meanwhile, Fulope was piling up the goals.

Yet again a 3-2 advantage for the southerners ensued during the third quarter and that extended their lead to 9-6 before the last session started.

There was no stopping Ian Azzopardi’s team as they grew in confidence to win the final eight minutes 4-2 for a comfortable 13-8 score in their favour.

They are now four points behind neighbours Marsascala in the standings, with the latter having played a match less.

Summaries

Ta’ Xbiex 8
Marsaxlokk 13

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

Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, L. Pace, M. Camilleri, S. Aquilina, M. Agius, J. Cauchi, S. Gravina 1, K. Debattista 1, E. Gravina, M. Maksimovic 2, R. Attard, O. Zammit, P. Markoch 4.

Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, A. Agius, B. Fulope 6, A. Galea 1, G. Busuttil, C. Bugeja 1, M. Fenech, S. Xerri De Caro 1, A. Mifsud 2, O. Frick 2, A. Arrigo, D. Borg Millo, M. Scerri.

Referees: M. Angileri, F. Ricciotti.

Sirens 11
Valletta 10

(3-5, 4-3, 3-1, 1-1)

Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Mizzi, C. Presciutti 3, G. Pace, M. Grech 1, C. Kiss 3, M. Caruana, D. Cutajar 2, J. Napier 1, E. Aquilina 1, L. Caruana, A. Sammut, M. Pisani.

Valletta: R. Sciortino, R. Mock, M. Spiteri Staines, M. Korolija 2, N. Bonello Ghio, S. Cachia, D. Paolella 2, D. Abela, C. Debono 1, C. Zammit 1, M. Cordina 1, D. Filipovic 1, M. Rizzo 2.

Referees: A. De Raffaele, G. Sorgente.

Premier League

First Division

Playing today
First Division: 18.45 Marsascala Mor€ vs Otters Nivea.
Premier League: (Championship Pool) 20.00 San Ġiljan Allcare vs Neptunes Grimaldi.