Sliema back into the winning groove

After going down to San Giljan last Saturday and suffering an early elimination from the Knock-Out competition at the hands of the same opponents, Sliema bounced back to victory when they saw off Exiles 19 – 5 in the last match of the evening.

Sliema were miles ahead of their opponents.

The first session proved to be a vital springboard for Beto’s team as they built a four-goal advantage of 5-1, a gap which widened to 12 goals by the end of the games.

Exiles could not make their presence felt but they managed to draw level in the second session, which finished 2-2.

The Blues scored another five goals and conceded just once in the third session as the advantage started getting wider again.

They finished emphatically, scoring 7 more goals in the last session.

Dino Zammit reached the remarkable tally of six goals with Matthew Mifsud scoring five.

It was no less than what they deserved as they showed to have a more balanced side, not least for the fact that they had seven scorers in their ranks to the losers’ five.

SLIEMA 19

EXILES 5

(5-1, 2-2, 5-1, 7-1)

SLIEMA N. Grixti, J. Gabaretta, L. Galea 1, D. Rizzo, M. Meli 2, B. Cachia, K. Borg, M. Mifsud 5, J. Brownrigg 2, J. Gambin 1, Z. Mizzi 2, D. Zammit 6, A. Theuma.

EXILES M.Castillo, N. Saliba, M. Paris Roding, P. Paris, T. Sullivan, S. Xerri de Caro, M. Fenech 1, K. Griscti, N. Paris 1, J. Bajada, M. Aquilina 1, D. Fenech 1, G. Borg, M. Martellacci 1

Referees: F. Brasiliano, A. de Raffaele.

In the First Division, the two-horse battle between leaders Valletta and Marsaskala still rages on.

By virtue of a clear-cut 8-2 win over Marsaxlokk, the South Seasiders kept breathing down the necks of the Citizens.

Marsascala were never troubled by their opponents. Nenad Navarin’s team slid into a 4-1 deficit into the second session, but that gap widened to 13-5 by the end of the third quarter.

Marsaxlokk somehow battled on but could only finish well-beaten after losing the final session 5-3.

Jake Ciantar’s four goals followed by Gerald Sammut, Mark Carani, and Kyle Navarro who scored two goals each, had inflicted the main damage for Marsaxlokk for whom Ryan Galea grabbed a hat-trick to add to his already impressive tally.

Meanwhile, the first match was as good as over after the change of ends, with the final result reflecting the ascendancy Joe Cremona’s team enjoyed. Despite this, the Citizens’ scoring rate showed no signs of abating after the break.

MARSASKALA 13

MARSAXLOKK 5

(3-0, 1-1, 4-1, 5-3)

MARSASKALA J. Micallef, JC Cutajar, A. Camenzuli, R. Greco, G. Galea 1, K. Navarro 2, M. Manara, D. Pace Lupi 1, G. Sammut 2, J. Ciantar 4, M. Carani 2, A. Muscat, L. Falzon 1.

MARSAXLOKK S. Mifsud, R. Spiteri, C. Cutajar, B. Zammit, T. Agius, D. Bugeja, M. Zammit 1, L. Mallia 1, L. Saliba, R. Galea 3, J. Valletta, E. Mallia, M. Farrugia.

Referees: M. Sponza, R. Magri.

Valletta were fully worth their victory with three goals coming from Andrea Agius, and a brace each from Luca Felice, Michele Mifsud, and Stephen Micallef.

Valletta were off to a flying start which eventually had their coach going for constant rotation of the available units in his squad.

Otters steadied their ship after the break while Valletta slackened considerably at the back but still won comfortably.

VALLETTA 13

OTTERS 9

(4-2, 2-1, 3-2, 5-3)

VALLETTA B. Busuttil, N. Farrugia 1, T. Said, J. Culic 1, S. Busuttil, Z. Micallef 1, M. Pace, M. Mifsud 2, S. Micallef 2, A. Agius 3, K. Galea, K. Cremona, A. Bugeja, L. Felice 2, R. Attard 1.

OTTERS M. Xerri, K. Scicluna, L. Grech Carr 5, M. Farrugia, D. Dimech, I. Azzopardi 2, S. Dimech 1, L. Dimech, S. Apap, Z Bartolo, A. Dimech 1, G. Gatt Ellis.

Referees: F. Brasiliano, S. Licari