Champions cruise to first win

San GiljanTum Invest 10 Exiles Jetfreight 4 (1-1), (2-0), (5-2), (2-1)

Defending champions San GiljanTum Invest cruised to their first victory of the Winter League with an emphatic 10-4 result over Exiles Jetfreight with the match largely decided in the second and third sessions.

In fact, the first session ended 11 with Ben Plumpton opening the scoring and Mark Fenech equalising for Exiles. The second session saw the Saints win 2-0 with the goals coming from Dino Zammit and Ben Plumpton again.

San Giljan won the third session convincingly 5-2 with Peter Borg and a double by Andreas Galea making it 6-1 in quick succession. Mark Fenech scored his second to make it 6-2 but another two goals by Ben Plumpton restored the 5 goal advantage although Mark Fenech had scored again just before for Exiles.

The final session was a quiet affair with Timmy Sullivan making it 8-4 before Dino Zammit and Matthew Zammit made it 10-4 for the Saints.

San Giljan Tum Inv: J Tanti, P Borg (1), A Galea (2), B Grech, J Galea, M Zammit (1), B Plumpton (4), C Farrugia, T Said, D Zammit, P Fava, D Zammit (2), T Micallef

Exiles Jetfreight: M Castillo, C Von Brockdorff, A Bianchi, P Paris, T Sullivan (1), S Xerri de Caro, M Fenech (3), K Griscti, N Paris, A Cousin, B Lanzon, L Felice, G Ciappara

Referees: M Angileri, P Balzan

Fine victory for Sirens Sliema Frank Salt 8 Sirens Greentube 10 (2-3), (3-3), (2-1), (1-3)

Sirens Greentube registered a fine victory when they beat a disappointing Sliema Frank Salt side by 10 goals to 8 in a tight encounter with the match decided in the final session.

Clint Mercieca was instrumental with four goals - all scored at the end of each session.

Sirens shaded the first session 3-2 with Nicholas Bugelli opening the scoring for Sliema. Two goals by Jacob Sciberras put Sirens 2-1 ahead before Zach Mizzi made it 2-2. Clint Mercieca put Sirens ahead in the final 30 seconds of the session.

The second session was a balanced affair and ended 3-3. Michael Spiteri Staines made it 33 but Clint Mercieca and Jacob Sciberras made it 5-3 for Sirens. Nicholas Bugelli then made it 5-4 and Zach Mizzi levelled matters before Clint Mercieca again put Sirens a goal ahead at the interval.

The third session remained balanced with Sliema overturning their one-goal deficit with strikes by Mark Meli and Michael Spiteri Staines. However ex John Brownrigg equalised for Sirens in the final 30 seconds of the session setting up a knife edge final session.

Sirens upped the tempo and won the session 3-1 to register the victory. It was Paul Privitera who put Sirens ahead with David Fenech equalising for Sliema. But goals from Luke Caruana and the indefatigable Clint Mercieca sealed a fine victory for Sirens.

Sliema Frank Salt: J Sammut, J Saliba, D Fenech (1), M Carani, M Meli (1), K Dowling, M Spiteri Staines (2), Z Chetcuti, M Cordina, Z Galea Mule’, Z Mizzi (2), N Bugelli (2), Z Sciberras

Sirens Greentube: N Grixti, G J Zerafa, E Aquilina, P Privitera (1), M Grech, A Camenzuli, C Mercieca (4), J Sciberras (3), J Bronwrigg (1), C Zammit, L Caruana (1), L Falzon, G Galea Curmi

Referees: R Spiteri, A De Raffaele First Division result: Ta Xbiex Amigos 4, Marsascala 6

Nicholas Bugelli (L) of Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate in control against Sirens Greentube Photo: Domenic Aquilina

Photo: Domenic Aquilina San Giljan Tum Invest’s Dino Zammit (C) seems to be juggling with the ball as he performs an assist against Exiles Jetfreight