San Ġiljan were in dominant mood yesterday as they beat Sirens by a seven-goal margin.
There was no doubt about the legitimacy of San Ġiljan’s handsome victory. They were the slicker team, always in control of the situation and in their forward line of Paul Fava and Dino Zammit, who netted five goals between them, they had their principal ace cards.
Sirens opened the score through a penalty by Jacob Sciberras but Ben Plumpton soon equalised. San Ġiljan took over at this point when Fava put them ahead and Triston Said punished some slack marking to make it 3-1.
The Ballutta Bay team made it 5-1 at the start of the second session before veteran Edward Aquilina struck twice in quick succession as Sirens nibbed their way back to cut down that huge lead.
However, San Ġiljan scored three to their opponents’ two in the second quarter for a 6-3 lead.
Soon after the restart, San Ġiljan made it 7-3 when Matthew Zammit anticipated Sciberras to hand the ball on a plate to Dino Zammit who had followed up expertly.
San Ġiljan were definitely the better side at this stage when Fava finished off a solo break in style before Christian Farrugia gave his team a comfortable six-goal cushion.
An attempt block on a one-man break at the start of the last session cost the northerners dearly as Dino Zammit completed his hat-trick from a penalty.
The two goals shared at the end of the last session were of no consequence as the issue had long been resolved.
In the final fixture of the day, Sliema recovered in style from last week’s setback against Sirens, to score an easy win over Valletta.
Valletta were in no shape to offer any challenge to their opponents who gave little at the back.
Jerome Gabarretta was in an irresistible vein, scoring five goals.
Neptunes Leo Vegas 13
Exiles Jetfreight 8
(2-2, 5-3, 1-2, 5-1)
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 2, K. Erdogan, G. Pace 2, S. Busuttil, J. Culic, N. Zammit 2, J. Camilleri 2, M. Cutajar, M. Zammit 1, J. Muscat 2, M. Azzopardi 2, F. Buhagiar
Exiles: M. Castillo, C. van Brockdorf, A. Bianchi, P. Paris, T. Sullivan 1, S. Xerri de Caro 2, M. Fenech 1, K. Griscti, N. Paris, A. Cousin 2, B. Lanzon 2, L. Felice, G. Ciappara.
Refs: M. Dalli, R. Spiteri.
Sirens Greentube 4
San Ġiljan Tum Invest 11
(1-3, 2-3, 0-3,1-2)
Sirens: N. Grixti, J. Zerafa Gregory, E. Aquilina 2, P. Privitera, M. Grech, A. Camenzuli, C. Mercieca, J. Sciberras 1, J. Brownrigg 1, C. Zammit, L. Caruana, L. Falzon, O. Gauci.
San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, P. Borg 2, A. Galea, B. Grech 1, J. Galea, M. Zammit, B. Plumpton 1, C. Farrugia 1, T. Said 1, Darren Zammit, P. Fava 2, Dino Zammit 3, T. Micallef.
Refs: A. De Raffaele, M. Angileri.
Valletta 3
Sliema Frank Salt 11
(0-2, 0-4, 2-4, 1-1)
Valletta: R. Sciortino, J. Spiteri Staines 2, N. Farrugia, M. Mifsud, T. Agius, R. Mock 1, P. Paolella, M. Lanzon, D. Saliba, A. Agius, K. Galea, L. Gialanze, R. Bonnici.
Sliema: J. Sammut, J. Gabarretta 5, D. Fenech 1, M. Carani, M. Meli, K. Dowling 1, M. Spiteri Staines 2, Z. Galea Mule, M. Cordina, Z. Chetcuti, Z. Mizzi 2, N. Bugelli, Z. Sciberras.
Refs: S. Licari, A. De Raffaele.
Otters Nivea 4
Ta’ Xbiex Amigos 14
(0-2, 1-3, 2-4, 1-5)
Otters: K. Schembri, M. Camilleri, A. Magri, D. Dimech, J. Teuma, C. Bugeja, G. Mizzi, S. Dimech, K. Scicluna, E. Gravina, A. Falzon, G. Sammut, M. Sciberras 4.
Ta’ Xbiex: M. Vassallo, M. Aquilina, M. Manara 1, L. Hyzler 1, B. Cachia 2, K. Mock 1, L. Galea 7, G. Blundell, G. Sammut 1, K. Tanti 1, N. Saliba, L. Pace.
Refs: M. Angileri, S. Licari.
Birżebbuġa 8
Marsascala 6
(1-1, 2-1, 2-1, 3-3)
Birżebbuġa: D. Abela, M. Borg, N. Cassar 2, D. Pace Lupi 2, J. Buhagiar, J. Rizzo Naudi, M. Tabone 1, D. Cutajar 1, S. Micallef 2, G. Farrugia, K. Rizzo Naudi, M. Ortoleva, D. Spiteri.
Marsascala: J. Micallef, JC. Cutajar 1, J. Theuma, D. Borg Millo, L. Grixti 1, K. Navarro 2, J. Busuttil, J. Bajada 1, C. Mifsud 1, D. Cassar, R. Attard, J. Cremona.
Refs: M. Angileri, R. Spiteri.