In a drab, low-scoring Premier League match Sirens Ritter Sport earned their first win of the winter season when they beat wooden-spoonists Exiles Ferretti 4-2, yesterday.

The two goals which separated the sides came from centre Zach Mizzi who netted in each of the last two sessions.

Both teams were unable to threaten seriously in the opening quarters as Exiles forged ahead twice through Sean Gravina and Kayne Lanzon only for the northerners to draw level each time courtesy of Andrew Sammut and Gabriel Pace.

However, Sirens looked a shade better in the latter part of the game, especially after their opponents were guilty of four missed extra-man sets against an otherwise better-drilled rearguard led by Nicholas Grixti.

Otters Nivea were a sharper side in the earlier lower division match, with the 8-6 scoreline just about reflecting the gap between the teams.

With Gabriel Mizzi conducting operations, besides netting a brace, the Gozitans always held the upper hand despite the opportunism of the Ta’ Xbiex veteran, Duncan Schembri, who hit three goals.

At one time early in the final quarter, Otters, whose other goals came from George Debono, Luke Hyzler (two each), Max Borg and Christoff Martin, led 7-3 and it was only in the last part of the game that Ta’ Xbiex cut the leeway to two goals.

Besides Schembri, Edward Gravina, Kurt Mock and David Saliba scored the other goals for the losers.

Summaries

Otters 8
Ta’ Xbiex 6
(1-0, 3-2, 2-1, 2-3)

Otters: F. Buhagiar, M. Borg Millo, R. Greco, D. Dimech, K. Scicluna, G. Mizzi 2, M. Borg 1, G. Debono 2, C. Martin 1, L. Hyzler 2, C. M. Scerri.

Ta’ Xbiex: J. Micallef, I. Spiteri, M. Camilleri, E. Gravina 1, K. Mock 1, S. Aquilina, D. Schembri 3, D. Saliba 1, L. Pace, R. Attard, E. Mifsud, N. Camenzuli.

Referees: A. De Raffaele, A. Goncharenko.

Exiles 2
Sirens 4
(1-0, 1-2, 0-1, 0-1)

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, G. Ciappara, L. Peric, K. Lanzon 1.

Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Mizzi 2, A. Camenzuli, G. Pace 1, M. Grech, A. Sammut 1, M. Balucci, D. Cutajar, J. Napier, J. Sciberras, I. Riolo, E. Meli, J. Zerafa Gregory.

Referees: P. Balzan, R. Spiteri.