Neptunes beat San Giljan comfortably

● Sirens win tight match against Valletta

SAN GILJAN TUM IN....... 5 NEPTUNES LEO VEGAS. 12 (1-2), (1-4), (1-5), (2-1)

Holders San Ġiljan TUM Invest were beaten by a more concentrated and cynical Neptunes side, as Jovan Popovic’s team won comfortably 12-5. San Ġiljan had missing their influental captain Matthew Zammit, but on the day they were poor and couldn’t get more than a loss.

In the absence of Stevie and Jordan Camilleri, Neptunes had several youngsters shining in the game, namely Jake Muscat and left-hander Nikolai Zammit. Jovan Popovic will surely be glad of his team’s display as led by their captain Niki Lanzon, they commanded the game with ease and assured themselves of winning the game after the break.

San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, D. Ciantar, A. Galea, B. Grech (1), K. Dowling, J. Portelli, B. Plumpton (2), C. Farrugia, T. Said (1), Da. Zammit, J. Bonavia, Di. Zammit (1), T. Micallef

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon (2), K. Erdogan (1), G. Pace, M. Martellacci, J. Farrugia, J. Culic, S. Busuttil, J. Abela (2), N. Zammit (2), J. Muscat (4), M. Azzopardi (1), B. Busuttil

Referees: Ronnie Spiteri, Stefan Licari

SIRENS GREENTUBE...... 9 VALLETTA VID.SLOTS... 8 (1-3), (1-2), (4-2), (3-1)

A late goal by centre John Brownrigg gave Sirens Greentube a precious win in a direct clash against Valletta Videoslots. Sasko Popovski’s team had to work hard to recover from a slow start, but a gutsy performance in the third session gave them hope to avoid defeat.

Valletta must be disappointed with themselves as they were cruising in the first part of the game but after the break, they lost the punch that they had in the centre of the attack and ended up relying on the shots from outside by veteran Charlie Zammit.

Sirens were only in advantage in the second part of the last session and after Isaiah Riolo missed a penalty, John Brownrigg struck the winner with a shot from close range with 4.6 seconds to spare.

Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Bartolo, E. Aquilina (2), G. Sammut, M. Grech, J. Ciantar, J. Zerafa Gregory, I. Riolo (1), J. Napier (1), J. Brownrigg (3), L. Caruana (1), M. Sciberras (1), O. Gauci

Valletta: R. Sciortino, J. Spiteri Staines (1), A. Agius, P. Borg (2), C. Zammit (4), R. Mock, D. Paolella (1), M. Mifsud, N. Farrugia, M. Zammit, M. Lanzon, L. Gialanze, R. Bonnici

Referees: Stefan Licari, Richard Magri

SLIEMA FRANK SALT..... 9 BIRZEBBUGA FP............ 4 (2-2), (2-0), (4-0), (1-2)

Sliema Frank Salt had the easiest game on the card but Birżebbuġa were no pushovers, despite ending the game losing with 9-4. The third session was the most crucial as Sliema scored four consecutive goals to take their lead from 4-2 to 8-2.

The first session ended 2-2 as Simon Vassallo equalised with Birżebbuġa’s last action in the session. Zach Mizzi and debutant Jacob Sciberras doubled Sliema’s advantage with two goals in the last minute before the break.

David Cutajar and Mikhael Cutajar scored twice for Birżebbuġa in the first part of the last session while Jerome Gabarretta rounded the win for Sergio Afric’s side.

Sliema: M. Vassallo, J. Gabarretta (3), G. Sammut, J. Sciberras (2), M. Meli, B. Cachia (2), M. Spiteri Staines, N. Saliba, M. Cordina, D. Fenech, Z. Mizzi (1), N. Bugelli (1), A. Theuma

Birżebbuġa: D. Spiteri, M. Borg, N. Cassar, D. Pace Lupi, C. Mifsud, R. Mifsud, S. Vassallo (1), D. Cutajar (2), Z. Farrugia Seychell, M. Cutajar (1), L. Borg, J. Buhagiar, J. Cremona

Referees: Alex De Raffaele, Neville Mercieca