In a low-key match, played at a slow tempo in consonant with the ripe age of some of the teams' components, Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise edged past Marsaxlokk.

Although the duel was close, there was little coherent play to enthuse the small crowd present. Marsaxlokk came back from two goals down in the first session to take a 3-2 lead at the halfway mark.

However, Ta' Xbiex bounced back to win the next quarter convincingly and thus overturned the scoreline to 6-4 in their favour before a tame epilogue left John Tabone's team ahead.

Conducting the match against Marsascala Peak, Exiles Jet Services made short shrift of their opponents when registering a 15-6 victory which should put the team from Sliema ahead of their opponents at the start of the second division trek.

The tone of the contest was set in the initial stages when Joe Caruana Dingli's team took a 4-0 lead by the start of the second session.

Although Marsascala tried to hang on and reduce the arrears, Exilex moved up a gear to finish their job well in control as Aurelien Cousin again blew the scoring trumpet when striking five times.

Marsaxlokk 5
Ta' Xbiex 7
(0-2, 3-0, 1-4, 1-1)

Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, G. Attard 2, R. Calleja, A. Farrugia, A. Razzi 1, C. Bugeja, M. Bartolocci, E. Bonello, E. Arrigo, K. Grima Scott, R. Attard 2, M. Buttigieg.

Ta' Xbiex: A. Bianchi, S. Cachia, M. Manara, K. Falzon, G. Lubrano, B. Szalma 1, P. Paolella, K. Engerer, J. Tabone 1, E. Aquilina 2, G. Gera, D. Pisani 2, Y. Szeles 1.

Referees: R. Spiteri, M. Angilleri.

Marsascala 6
Exiles 15
(0-2, 3-4, 1-4, 2-5)

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, P. Borg, J.C. Cutajar, M. Borg, G. Ghirxi, L. Grixti 1, J. Licari 2, J. Cremona 1, S. Micallef, R. Cutajar, S. Botond 1, G. Suti 1, M. Spiteri.

Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi, K. Rizzo Naudi 1, D. Pace Lupi 1, T. Sullivan 2, S. Cini, R. Chomakhidze 4, K. Grixti, A. Zarb Cousin 5, A. Cousin, S. Vassallo, K. Enriquez, M. Calleja 2.

Referees: P. Balzan, A. DeRaffaele.

Today: 17.00 Otters vs Exiles; 18.15 Neptunes vs Sirens.

Tomorrow: 19.30 San Ġiljan vs Sliema.

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