Malta started their Euro Championship qualification venture very positively when they disposed of Switzerland by an emphatic 20-8 scoreline.

It was an encouraging performance which bodes well for their chances to secure a berth in the Euro finals in Belgrade early next year. In this respect today’s match against Poland will be crucial.

An early mini-scare was the tonic the Maltese needed to find their rhythm which was orchestrated by man-of-the-match Niki Lanzon. He not only co-ordinated his team’s moves but also found time to net seven goals.

Coach Karl Izzo was forced to leave out prolific scorer Steve Camilleri, who was not fully fit, in the opening session.

He was then introduced at the start of the second session when the team trailed 5-3 and after helping to boost his team-mates and also netting a goal he was withdrawn.

The middle sessions proved to be pivotal as the Maltese scored at will to open a huge gap which was finally stretched to 12 goals and rounded up to 20 conversions.

Almost all the outfield players inserted their names in the scorers’ list, with all the 13 components being utilised.

Switzerland 8
Malta 20

(5-3, 0-7, 1-6, 2-4)

Switzerland: L. Henzi, R. Lucato 1, M. Herzog, O. Frohli, A. El Mehrek 2, S. Velikov, A. Cassina 1, P. Bjelajac, L. Damjanov, R. Pleyer 4, P. Canonica.

Malta: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 7, J. Gabarretta 1, M. Stellini 1, M. Meli 2, M. Zammit 1, S. Camilleri 1, J. Camilleri 1, E. Aquilina 1, A. Cousin 3, C. Mercieca, D. Zammit 2, N. Grixti.

Referees: I. Kikalishvili (Georgia), C. Siarou (Belarus).

Other result: Germany 10 Poland 3 (1-0, 4-0, 2-2, 3-1).