San Ġiljan All Care Insurance stepped up their game to turn in a slick performance which helped them topple Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate off the summit of the table to make it a tighter three-horse race in the looming play-offs for the winter title.

The Saints’ 12-10 win in a game which at times grew hot under the collar, was legitimate given their ability to adopt an effective game-plan based on sound cover tactics which were the springboard of some excellent finishing.

The tactics of Saints coach Emile Nikolic were spot-on as his players won several stringent tussles yesterday to punish their opponents with clinical execution after some slick transfers of the ball.

The tandem of Matthew and Dino Zammit and Kai Dowling, each scorer of a hat-trick, had very good support from all their colleagues.

Sliema, without Mark Meli and Christian Cluett, could not get going and twice drifted to five-goal deficits in the middle quarters after their opponents laid a 6-2 platform in the opening session.

Their efforts could only close the leeway to two goals, with Jerome Gabarretta’s poker only serving to boost his scoring statistics.

The Blues are now on 12 points, one behind San Ġiljan, with third Neptunes Grimaldi on ten.

Neptunes’ bid to make up the points leeway on the top tandem and thus offer a sterner challenge for the pre-season honour was never in danger of failing as they beat Valletta McDonald’s 10-6.

The lack of depth in strength of both squads was evident but the Reds had captain Niki Lanzon and Jordan Camilleri, who each netted four goals, the scoring catalysts who were a cut above the rest.

Neptunes banked on a strong rearguard and quick breaks rather than any menace from the centre or middle order units. Their edge was clear never mind some chinks in their armoury.

Valletta, with only 11 players in the list, never gave up despite being constantly three or four goals down.

City’s oxygen came from Michael Cordina who grabbed a hat-trick.

Earlier, Exiles Ferretti fell short of at least sharing the wooden spoon with Valletta and Sirens Ritter Sport when they were defeated by the St Paul’s Bay team 7-6.

Summaries

Exiles 6
Sirens 7

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

Exiles: D. Abela J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo 1, D. Pace Lupi, M. Paris, J. Spiteri Staines, S. Gravina 3, K. Grixti 1, S. Galea Pace, A. Bianchi 1, P. Paris, L. Peric, K. Lanzon.

Sirens: N. Grixti, J. Sciberras, K. Debattista, G. Pace 2, M. Grech 1, A. Sammut 1, M. Caruana, D. Cutajar 3, J. Napier, E. Aquilina, L. Caruana, G. Mertens, M. Muscat.

Referees: P. Balzan and A. De Raffaele.

Neptunes 10
Valletta 6

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

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 4, N. Farrugia, M. Stellini 1, T. Agius, L. Gialanze, G. Mizzi, J. Camilleri 4, M. Azzopardi, M. Zammit 1, B. Lanzon, B. Muscat, C. Mercieca.

Valletta: R. Sciortino, A. Agius, M. Rizzo 1, K. Galea 1, N. Bonello Ghio, R. Mock 1, D. Paolella, M. Cordina 3, C. Zammit, O. Zammit, D. Camilleri.

Referees: A. De Raffaele and S. Licari.

Sliema 10
San Ġiljan 12

(2-6, 2-2, 3-2, 3-2)

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 4, E. Meli, T. Sullivan 2, M. Manara, J. Soler 2, M. Spiteri Staines, D. Fenech, J. Brownrigg 2, A. Attard J. Gambin, M. Mifsud.

San Ġiljan: J. Sammut, P. Borg, A. Galea 1, K. Galea, K. Dowling 3, M. Zammit 3, B. Plumpton, Darren Zammit, P. Fava 2, Dino Zammit 3, D. Spiteri.

Referees: P. Balzan and M. Dalli.

Premier Division

  P W D L F A Pts
San Ġiljan 5 4 1 0 64 38 13
Sliema 5 4 0 1 54 41 12
Neptunes 5 3 1 1 48 29 10
Sirens 5 2 0 3 33 55 6
Valletta 5 1 0 4 28 40 3
Exiles 5 0 0 5 30 54 0

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