In a match which had little at stake except statistics and minor positions in the table, Valletta McDonald’s and Exiles Ferretti shared 12 goals with the latter team breaking their duck in terms of points but on the other hand assuring Sirens of fourth spot.

The team from Sliema, watched passively from the bench by Maurizio Mirarchi, last year’s coach, stretched every sinew to get back into contention while Valletta stalled after an encouraging kick-start which gave them a 5-1 lead early into the second session.

Matthew Pisani’s lads managed twice to bridge that deficit to a single goal, before Kayne Lanzon (scorer of a double together with Andrea Bianchi) equalised with three minutes remaining.

For the City team, Michael Cordina netted a hat-trick.

In the First Division, Marsa-scala Empire Nutrition are three points behind leaders Marsaxlokk after seeing off Ta’ Xbiex Amigos 14-3 in yesterday’s opening match in programme.

Marsascala opened an unassailable gap in the third session winning it 8-2, after which they cantered home, with Stephen Micallef striking five times.

Summaries

Valletta 6
Exiles 6

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

Valletta: D. Camilleri, A. Agius, M. Rizzo 2, K. Galea, N. Bonello Ghio, R. Mock 1, D. Paolella, M. Cordina 3, C. Zammit, O. Zammit, R. Sciortino.

Exiles: D. Abela, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi, M. Paris, J. Spiteri Staines 1, S. Gravina 1, K. Grixti, I. Bugeja, A. Bianchi 2, P. Paris, N. Paris, K. Lanzon 2.

Referees: P. Balzan, R. Spiteri.

Marsascala 14
Ta’ Xbiex 3

(2-1, 2-0, 8-2, 2-0)

Marsascala: K. Schembri, J.C. Cutajar 1, M. Pace, C. Bonello 1, L. Grixti 3, J. Busuttil, J. Cremona 1, S. Micallef 5, K. Navarro 3, D. Cassar, C. Mifsud, F. Buhagiar.

Ta’ Xbiex: J. Micallef, A. Bajada, M. Camilleri, P. Micallef 1, J. Gauci, K. Mock 1, S. Aquilina, R. Greco 1, E. Gravina, C. Pace, L. Pace, K. Grima Scott.

Referees: M. Angileri, P. Giordano.

Premier League

First Division