Sirens, San Giljan and Sliema march on

Sirens won back their Premier Division status when they beat Ta’ Xbiex 15-3. The victory was a foregone conclusion as the Northenders were clearly the superior lot.

Likewise, San Giljan and Sliema eased into comfortable wins.

TA’XBIEX 3

SIRENS 15

(0-2, 1-3, 0-5, 2-5)

In the first match, the gap between the teams was evident from the beginning, with Sirens scoring almost at will, conversions which came mostly on well-orchestrated set play.

The resistance from Ta’ Xbiex was only occasional, with the result reflecting the disparity between the two sides. A 5-1 lead for Sirens was widened to 10-1 by the end of the penultimate.

Their momentum was not maintained through the last session with the presence of Gianni Farrugia who netted five goals.

TA’XBIEX R. Coleiro, JC Saliba, E. Aquilina, Z. Cutajar Licari, E. Meli, S. Engerer, J. Saliba, J. Cassar, E. Schembri 3, B. Attard Littschw, P. Tabone, J. Chircop 1, Z. Dzanovic.

SIRENS T. Micallef, P. Serracino 1, K. Erdogan 1, J. Sciberras, J Zerafa Gregory 2, G. Farrugia 5, M. Chircop, I. Riolo 1, J. Napier, M. Cutajar, M. Sciberras 2, M. Azzopardi 1, M. Bonello Dupius

Refs: A. Doro, R. Magri

SAN GILJAN 20

MARSASKALA 2

(7-1, 5-0, 7-1, 1-0)

In the second match of the day, San Giljan, with a more standard formation in the water, easily disposed of Marsaskala, who must have entertained hopes of offering the Saints a good challenge after their 10-5 win over Marsaxlokk.

But there was nothing the southerners could do against the Balluta Bay’s men who thrived on their thrusful swinning and powerful shooting to send Jurgen Micallef’s net bulging with regularity.

It was 12-1 halfway through as Zeljko Kovacic rotatated his squad, utilising all his younger players in the subsequent sessions. Yet, there was no respite in their scoring rate to reach the 20-goal target in the final seconds of the last quarter.

SAN GILJAN J. Tanti, P. Borg, A. Galea 2, N. Schiavone 1, G. Bonavia, M. Zammit 1, B. Plumpton 3, D. Tully, J. Bonavia 3, N. Zammit 4, D. Zammit 3, N. Bonavia1, G. Vassallo, M. Ortoleva 2.

MARSASKALA J. Micallef, JC Cutajar, L. Falzon, P. Privitera, R. Greco, G. Galea, K. Navarro, M. Manara, D. Pace Lupi 1, G. Sammut 1, J.Ciantar, M. Carani, A. Muscat

Refs: A. Roberti, P. Balzan

SLIEMA 23

BARRACUDAS 3

(5-0, 7-1, 6-1, 4-1)

In the last match of the day, Sliema cantered to a decisive victory against a fragile opposition put up by Barracudas.

It was another embarrassingly one-sided match which could not to be seriosuly regarded by the Blues as a gauge of their strength.

Their accurate and forceful finishing and the constant rotation of their men heaped misery on opponents willing to fight but unable to compete.

Doubles figures were reached midway through the session after which the teams shifted ends on 12-1.

Jerome Gabaretta’s five goals, Jayden Cutajar’s poker, and a hat-trick from Benji Cachia, John, Brownrigg, and Zach Mizzi rounded off the match to comfortable proportions.

SLIEMA N. Grixti, J. Gabaretta 4, L. Galea, D. Rizzo 1, M. Meli, B. Cachia 3, J. Cutajar 4, M. Mifsud 1, J. Brownrigg 3, J. Gambin, Z. Mizzi 3, D. Zammit 2, A. Theuma, K. Borg 1.

BARRACUDAS C. Bugeja, A. Piccione, S. Camilleri, P. Micallef, D. Ciantar 1, R. Sciortino, S. Aquilina, L. Galea 1, D. Camilleri, J. Bugeja, A. Mifsud, TJ Mifsud 1, M. Gouder.

Refs: A.Doro, A. DeRaffaele.

Next Fixtures:

WEDNESDAY 6.15pm Group B M’Xlokk Browns vs Exiles; Group A 7.20pm Valletta Izibet Otters Nivea; 08.25pm Neptunes Videoslots vs B’Buga Freeport