San Ġiljan ASC registered an expected victory over Exiles Ferretti yesterday to go joint top of the Winter League with neighbours Neptunes, both sides securing two wins from as many matches.
The second-tier competition got off to a positive start for Marsascala Nutrition Empire who beat Ta’ Xbiex Amigos 7-3 while the ASA U-19 selection brushed aside Otters Nivea 23-6 in a non-competitive match, their second success after they had beaten Premier team Exiles 13-7 last Tuesday.
An edgy opening session by San Ġiljan, which coincided with Exiles’ encouraging take-off, was turned around by the Saints in the second quarter and consolidated in the subsequent sessions for a comprehensive 15-3 win.
Exiles’ early spark deserted them and when the champions had the oil running in their engine, especially after the introduction in the second session of Aurelien Cousin, and the Matthew and Dino Zammit tandem, the writing was on the wall for the minnows.
The goals kept coming at regular intervals, with Dino Zammit leading his side’s scorers with a poker.
In the Div. One match, Marsascala, a shade better in terms of physical trim than Ta’ Xbiex, were able to assume control and, except for a goalless second quarter, were able to increase their two-goal lead which had matured in the first session.
San Ġiljan 15
Exiles 3
(2-2, 2-0, 5-0, 6-1)
San Ġiljan: J. Sammut, P. Borg 2, A. Galea 1, D. Camilleri, Darren Zammit 1, M. Zammit, K. Galea, C. Mercieca 2, B. Plumpton, A. Cousin 3, P. Fava 1, Dino Zammit 4, J. Galea 1.
Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi, D. Borg Millo, L. Felice, S. Gravina 1, K. Grixti, N. Paris, A. Bianchi, Ġ. Ciappara, L. Peric, K. Lanzon 2.
Referees: P. Balzan, M. Dalli.
Marsascala 7
Ta’ Xbiex 3
(3-1, 0-0, 2-1, 2-1)
Marsascala: K. Schembri. J.C. Cutajar, J. Bajada 1, C. Bonello, C. Mifsud, L. Grixti, J. Busuttil 1, J, Cremona, S. Micallef 1, M. Pace, D. Cassar 3, O. Zammit 1, B. Dougall.
Ta’ Xbiex: J. Micallef, I. Spiteri, M. Camilleri 1, J. Gauci, E. Gravina, K. Mock 1, S. Aquilina, D. Schembri 1, D. Saliba, L. Pace, R. Attard, N. Camenzuli, E. Vella.
Referees: A. Goncharenko, R. Spiteri.
ASA U-19 23
Otters 6
(4-1, 4-0, 8-3, 7-2)
ASA U-19: Z. Sciberras, N. Bugelli 2, A. Camenzuli 1, J. Sciberras 3, J. Abela 3, I. Riolo 3, M. Mifsud 3, M. Azzopardi, M. Zammit 5, K. Navarro 3, C. Mifsud, J. Tanti
Otters: R. Bonnici, L. Hyzler 1, R. Greco 2, G. Debono, C. Theuma, D. Dimech, K. Scicluna, M. Borg 1, G. Mizzi 1, C. Martin, M. Borg Millo 1, M. Scerri.
Referees: R. Magri, S. Licari.
Playing on Tuesday
18.00 Valletta McDonald’s vs ASA U-19.