With Marsascala Nutrition Empire sharing the spoils with southern neighbours Marsaxlokk Fischer and Ta’ Xbiex Amigos disposing of Otters Nivea, the three- point gap between the top two teams remained unchanged, with Ta’ Xbiex now a point adrift of Marsaxlokk in the BOV Division One table.
The main clash turned out to be an extremely balanced duel with the result locked on 11-goal apiece.
The protagonist of the match was Matyas Pasztor who knocked in no fewer than seven goals.
However, Marsaxlokk fought gamely to annul a two goal deficit four times after they had taken a 3-2 first-session lead.
In the opening match, Ta’ Xbiex neutralised an initial two-goal deficit to breeze through to a 17-11 victory over Otters Nivea especially after the Gozitans’ Srdjan Aksentijevic was excluded with substitution midway in the first quarter.
Six goals from the fit-again Adam Maklari and five from Mark Kallay contributed to their team’s win.
Ta’ Xbiex 17
Otters 11
(3-3, 6-3, 3-2, 5-3)
Ta’ Xbiex: J. Micallef, A. Maklari 6, A. Camenzuli 2, G. Attard, M. Kallay 5, K. Mock, A. Mifsud 1, K. Debat-tista 1, E. Gravina, G. Debono 1,L. Pace, M. Mifsud, K. Grima Scott 1.
Otters: R. Bonnici, M. Borg Millo, M. Paris 1, L. Gialanze, F. Kljajevic 1, E. Meli 4, K. Scicluna, G. Mizzi 2, N. Paris 2, D. Borg Millo 1 D. Dimech, C. S. Aksentijevic, M. Xerri.
Referees: S. Licari, D. McKerr.
Marsascala 11
Marsaxlokk 11
(2-3, 5-3, 3-3, 1-2)
Marsascala: K. Schembri, JC. Cutajar 1, B. Muscat, C. Bonello, B. Torok 1, L. Grixti, K. Navarro, J. Cremona, S. Micallef 2, M. Pasztor 7, D. Cassar, C. Mifsud, M. Pace.
Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, C. Spiteri DeBarro 2, M.Korolija 2, A. Galea, C. Gialanze, C. Bugeja, N. Portelli 1, I. Vuksanovic 3, R. Scerri 2, M. Lanzon, J. Xerri de Caro 1, J. Cremona.
Referees: M. Dalli, S. Obrien.
Playing today
National Pool: Relegation Pool 18.15 Sirens vs Valletta. Championship Pool 19.30 San Ġiljan vs Neptunes