Sirens 10
Neptunes 13
(4-4, 4-3, 1-3, 1-3)
It could have been a replica of the preliminary round match when Sirens Ritter Sport shocked Neptunes Vodafone with a 9-5 victory.
However, after Sirens had led for the first two sessions, a late comeback by the Reds, helped by a last-gasp two-goal salvo from Aljosa Kunac, nullified the northerners' courageous efforts to take something off this contest.
It is clear that when Neptunes are not efficient on their fast breaks and their big men do not operate at their best, the team finds the going tough. Moreover, Sirens did not allow the Reds time and space and that was evident for most of the match.
It was only in the latter part of the game that Neptunes, yesterday without the suspended Edward Cachia, could cash in on their edge in resilience and that was with only 87 seconds left when they led 11-10. Apart from Steve Camilleri's five goals, their scoring machine was somehow defective yesterday.
Sirens started in brisker fashion and reverted a goal deficit to go 3-1 ahead. The Balluta Bay team's reaction helped them equalise before they went again 4-3 behind after which Neptunes levelled matters on 4-4.
With Sirens alternating between press and quick shielding on the centre and Neptunes relying on double cover to play Attila Baranyi out of the game, the contest remained evenly poised with Sirens showing some extra skills to twice take a two-goal lead on 7-5 and 8-6.
Neptunes trimmed that deficit to one goal when ends were changed and then found some extra charge to score three times in succession and take a 10-8 lead midway through the third quarter.
But the northerners did not buckle and pulled a goal back with the last quarter to go. Meanwhile, they lost Anthony Galea on three exclusions.
The score remained unaltered until almost midway through the session when Paolo Malara called a time-out to re-set his forces. That worked but not before some time when the two late goals by Kunac, which sandwiched Charlie Zammit's 10th goal for Sirens, had the Reds fans sighing with relief before Camilleri netted his fifth in the dying seconds.
Sirens: J. Sammut, A. Baranyi 3, A. Galea, P. Privitera 1, R. Scerri, R. Mock 1, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar, A. Attard, C. Zammit 1, T. Marcz 2, C. Mercieca 1.
Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 2, T. Agius, K. Galea, R. Sciortino, S. Camilleri 5, J. Camilleri, A. Kunac 3, S. Gravina, L. Sottani 2, M. Stellini, M. Pisani 1.
Refs: P. Balzan. S. Alfi.
Exiles 19
Otters 8
(6-0, 4-2, 6-2, 3-4)
Exiles Jet Services moved a step nearer towards retaining the Division Two title when yesterday they defeated Otters Nivea as soundly as the 19-8 scoreline indicates.
There was little the Gozitan side could do against the speed and slick movement of Joe Caruana Dingli's team who powered to a 6-0 first-session lead before easing off to an emphatic victory.
As Exiles kept rotating their men efficiently, their superiority was never in question with Aurelien Cousin heading his team's scorers list when hitting in five goals.
Otters had never been in it and their shortfall on goals was further aggravated when veteran goalkeeper Adrian Cachia saved a penalty shot from Carol Baco.
Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi 2, K. Rizzo Naudi 1, D. Pace Lupi 4, T. Sullivan 2, A. Cachia, T. Chomakhidtze 2, K. Griscti 2, S. Cini, A. Cousin 5, S. Vassallo, K. Enriquez 1, M. Calleja.
Otters: R. Grech, D. Saliba, G. Zammit 1, S. Grech, D. Caruana, P. Szabo 3, K. Mizzi, K. Baco 1, C. Martin 1, L. Cachia 1, A. Arrigo 1, M. Tabone, R. Cini.
Refs: S. Licari, P. Giordano.