Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate could only come good in the last four minutes when they scored six goals and managed to finally pull away from a resilient Valletta McDonald’s to register an otherwise hard-earned 16-11 victory over their gallant opponents.

The City team, led by Stephen Rizzo from the bench, were as good as their opponents tactically and physically until those final moments when they shared 20 goals with the Blues.

They, in fact, led 7-5 until late in the second session after which an excellent back-hand by Michael Bodegas and a comeback 3-1 scoreline in the third quarter brought some relief for Sliema.

In the last minutes, three goals by Jerome Gabarretta, two from John Soler and another from Nikola Dedovic put the Blues comfortably in front.

First Division surprise leaders Ta’ Xbiex Amigos came out unscathed from a tough duel against an obdurate Otters Nivea and it was only a decisive 4-1 scoreline in their favour in the last quarter that preserved their hundred per cent record and a top spot in the table.

It had ben a ding dong affair with Ta’ Xbiex having the last say when it mattered and after eight of their units figured on the scorers’ list.

Otters, who had Filip Kljajevic fouled out early into the third session, had Srdjan Aksentijevic scoring seven times, four from penalty throws.

Summaries

Ta’ Xbiex 11
Otters 9

(2-3, 3-3, 2-2, 4-1)

Ta’ Xbiex: J. Micallef, A. Maklari 3, A. Camenzuli 1, G. Attard, M. Kallay 2, K. Mock, E. Gravina 1, M. Mifsud, G. Debono 1, M. Zammit 1, A. Mifsud 1, L. Pace, K. Grima Scott 1.

Otters: R. Bonnici, M. Borg Millo, M. Paris, L. Gialanze, F. Kljajevic 1, E. Meli 1, G. Mizzi, S. Dimech, N. Paris, D. Borg Millo, C. Martin, S. Aksentijevic 7, C. Theuma

Referees: S. Licari, G. Bonavita.

Sliema 16
Valletta 11

(4-3, 2-4, 3-1, 7-3)

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 4, K. Dowling, N. Bugelli 1, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 4, M. Spiteri Staines, C. Cluett, J. Brownrigg, M. Bodegas 3, A. Attard, N. Dedovic 3, Z. Sciberras.

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

Referees: M. Dalli, G. Del Bosco.

Playing today
Premier Division 16.45 San Ġiljan Allcare vs Exiles Ferretti; 19.15 Neptunes Grimaldi vs Sirens Ritter Sport. Division One 18.00 Marsascala Nutrition Empire vs Marsaxlokk Fischer.