Victory for Malta over Cyprus was very much on the cards yesterday.

Indeed, the Maltese delivered as they plundered their way past their hapless opponents to reach a landmark 20 goals and in the process secure their expected target of ending their four-day Comen Cup U-20 commitments in the fourth place out of six contestants.

Malta’s success was only blurred by incessant rain which rendered the proceedings at the National Pool uncomfortable.

The outstanding Ben Plumpton, who struck six times and reached a tally of 19 goals overall to insert his name among the top goal-getters, also helped to lift the gloom brought about by the freak August weather.

Plumpton, the youngest in the squad, is endowed with versatility besides scoring instincts of the highest order. Beyond his exploits, the Maltese all performed well as a team, ramming home their numerous breaks with cool efficiency.

Malta started well, taking a 7-2 first session lead which was extended to 10-3 before ends were changed.

The players pounced on almost every opportunity to thrust forward on the counter. They opened a nine-goal gap on 14-5 by the end of the third quarter. That advantage was eventually extended to 14 goals as Karl Izzo’s lads won the final session 6-1.

Plumpton was followed by Kai Dowling and Andreas Galea who scored five and four goals respectively, with the other conversions coming from Benji Lanzon, three, Keith Galea and Miguel Zammit, with one each.

Italian captain Vincenzo Dolce receiving the trophy from ASA president Joe Caruana Curran.

Meanwhile, the tournament had an exciting finale yesterday when Italy pipped Serbia on goal difference despite losing 15-14.

Italy, Serbia and Greece had each finished on 12 points, with the goal difference in clashes between the three teams determining the winner. The Italians finished on +2, the Serbs on 0 and Greece -2.

With Serbia needing to win by two goals and leading 15-13 until late in the match, Eduardo Campopiano reduced his team’s arrears 10 seconds from the end to earn the Italians their success in this year’s tournament for youth teams.

At the end of the match, ASA president Joe Caruana Curran presented the cup to the Italian captain Vincenzo Dolce and medals to the winning team and runners-up.

Malta 20
Cyprus 6

(7-2, 3-1, 4-2, 6-1)

Malta: N. Grixti, A. Galea 4, M. Grech, K. Dowling 5, B. Plumpton 6, K. Galea 1, B. Lanzon 3, M. Cacici, S. Xerri de Caro, M. Zammit 1, Z. Sciberras.

Cyprus: G Nicolaides, A, Modestou 2, N. Christodoulou 1, R. Naziris 1, G. Grigoriou, S. Efstathious 1, A. Ioannou. V. Zagkreos, E. Charalambous 1, S. Panaghi, A. Panaghi.

Referees: R. Colombo (Italy), M. Schwarz (Israel).

Other result: Israel vs Greece 6-25.

Final standings