Easy wins for Sliema and San Ġiljan

SLIEMA FRANK SALT SIRENS GREENTUBE (4-1), (4-1), (1-0), (3-4) 12 6

Sergio Afric’s team registered their fourth win of the league, defeating for the second time Sirens Greentube this time with a sixgoal margin.

Like the first round game, Sliema dominated the play and assured themselves the win at an early stage.

Sirens stalled again, as they had a slow start to the game with Sliema taking full advantage. In fact they opened a six-goal margin by the end of the second session, despite losing key players Michael Spiteri Staines and Jerome Gabarretta.

Sliema cancelled the early goal by Nicolas Bicari to win the first session 4-1.

The goals came from four different players, a sign of the collective effort that Afric installed in the team.

Sirens failed to react also after Sliema lost two of their main players, and deservedly the gap continued to get larger, as at that point only one team looked to be playing.

Sirens managed to be more careful in defence after the break, but their lack of driving in the attacking phase meant that they couldn’t stay in the game. David Fenech scored the only goal of the session.

Canadian Nicolas Bicari scored a hat-trick in the last session as alongside the other goal scored by Edward Aquilina, Sirens made the score more respectable, in another match they should forget.

J. Sammut, J. Gabarretta, C. Presciutti (4), M. Carani, M. Meli, K. Dowling, M. Spiteri Staines (1), D. Fenech (1), M. Cordina (1), J. Gambin (1), Z. Mizzi (2), N. Bugelli (2), Z. Sciberras

N. Grixti, P. Privitera, E. Aquilina (1), N. Bicari (4), M. Grech, I. Riolo, C. Mercieca, J. Sciberras (1), J. Napier, G. Sammut, L. Caruana, J. Brownrigg, G. Galea Curmi

Mario Dalli, Raffaele Colombo

EXILES ELIA CATERERS 9 SAN GILJAN TUM INVEST 13 (0-3), (2-4), (2-5), (5-1)

San Ġiljan continued to march on as they found no difficulty defeating Exiles Elia Caterers 13-9. The final result might give an indication of a balanced affair, but the game was totally the opposite as San Ġiljan dominated the first three sessions. Exiles managed to shade the loss in the last session. Captain Matthew Zammit was surely the protagonist for his team scoring six goals.

Peter Borg, Paul Fava and Matthew Zammit respectively permitted San Ġiljan to open up a three-goal cushion. This advantage continued to grow thanks to Paulo Obradovic and Matthew Zammit, but Exiles responded with two goals from Andrea Bianchi and Philip Paris.

But San Ġiljan reacted immediately and restored their five goal advantage to finish the second session 7-2.

The champions assured themselves the win with two braces by their captain Matthew Zammit and Paulo Obradovic taking an 11-2 lead and started the last session 12-4.

Orlovic’s rotated more the team while Exiles continued to play their game. With this shift, Exiles managed to make the score respectable as after Matthew Zammit scored his sixth goal of the game, Exiles scored five time to reduce the deficit from nine to four goals.

M. Castillo, M. Fenech (1), A. Bianchi (2), M. Stellini, T. Sullivan, S. Xerri de Caro, S. Nikic (1), K. Griscti, N. Paris (1), A. Cousin (1), B. Lanzon (2), P. Paris (1), M. Martin

J. Tanti, P. Borg (1), A. Galea, B. Grech, C. Farrugia, M. Zammit (6), B. Plumpton (1), Da. Zammit, T. Said, P. Obradovic (3), P. Fava (2), D. Ciantar, T. Micallef

Daniele Bianco, Peter Balzan

MARSASKALA TRAN. 6 BIRZEBBUGA FREEPORT 7 (2-1), (2-1), (1-2), (1-3)

Marsaskala: J. Micallef, J.C. Cutajar (1), E. Carabot, D. Borg Millo, A. Vlahovic (3), L. Grixti, K. Navarro, J. Busuttil, J. Bajada, C. Mifsud (1), D. Cassar, R. Attard (1), J. Cremona

D. Abela, M. Borg, N. Cassar (1), D. Pace Lupi (3), S. Mora (1), J. Rizzo Naudi, M. Ortoleva, D. Cutajar (2), S. Micallef, M. Cutajar, K. Rizzo Naudi, J. Zerafa Gregory, D. Spiteri

Ronnie Spiteri, Daniele Bianco

Standings Premier Division

San Ġiljan Neptunes Sliema Exiles Sirens Valletta P W 6 5 6 4 6 4 6 2 6 1 6 0

P Birżebbuġa 5 Marsaxlokk 5 Marsaskala 5 Ta’ Xbiex 5 Otters 4 D 1 1 1 1 0 0 W D 50 3 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 L F 0 73 1 79 1 70 3 64 5 45 6 33 L 0 2 3 3 4

F 52 58 47 53 33 A Pts 49 16 55 13 46 13 70 7 64 3 80 0

Division I

A Pts 40 15 48 9 47 6 50 6 58 0

Mark Meli (R) of Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate shoots at goal against Sirens Greentube. Photo: Domenic Aquilina

San Giljan TUM Invest's Andreas Galea shoots against Exiles Elia Cater. Photo: Domenic Aquilina

An unidentified Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate player (R) still holds on to possession despite the close challenge coming from Luke Caruana (L) of Sirens Greentube. Photo: Domenic Aquilina

Croatian Paolo Obradovic (R) of San Giljan TUM Invest is checked closely by Exiles Elia Cater's Slobodan Nikic (L) from Serbia. Photo: Domenic Aquilina