With no fewer than 10 current or former national team players on court, the match between Paola and San Anton Beer Garden, from the women's national league, was dubbed the clash of the titans.

And so it turned out to be, with neither team willing to give away an inch, knowing that a win at this stage could be very useful when the teams are separated in two groups after the opening round.

San Anton started slightly stronger than their opponents, taking the first set 25-18. The next two sets were close as both teams tried to impose their superiority with Paola drawing level on sets after winning the second 26-24. San Anton then took a 2-1 lead, claiming the third 25-23.

Paola staged another comeback in the fourth set, winning it 25-17 and setting the show for a tight decider. San Anton took an 8-4 lead and preserved that advantage till the very end, winning the match 3-2 in one hour and 58 minutes.

The San Anton men's A team was involved in another direct clash the past weekend, this time against Aloysians.

The first set was quite balanced, with the two teams winning point after point and keeping close to each other. Aloysians took a slight lead at 21-19, and although San Anton stayed in touch, they managed to keep this advantage and win the first set 25-23.

The next two sets were completely different. Aloysians were always in command, gathering points at ease, with San Anton unable to offer any real opposition.

At the end, they succumbed to their first defeat of the season. San Anton are still first in the standings with 16 points followed by the same Aloysians on 10.

In the men's U-19 league, Kerygma strengthened their championship bid, beating Aloysians 2-0 in impressive style, thus opening a two-point lead in the standings.

In the Ladies' U-19 league Fleur-de-Lys did not manage to offer any resistance to an organised Flyers side, with the latter winning 2-0 in 44 minutes.