Resilience and Soler's clarion call boost Sliema

Sliema 10
Sirens 6
(2-2, 3-2, 1-2, 4-0)

Until five days ago, Sliema Burger King's chances of retaining the first division title were anything but bright. However, their resilience, particularly through the power and scoring ability of their centre man John Soler, has enabled them to surge back into contention.

Five more goals from Soler, whose qualities as centre are being surpassed by his all-round versatility, gave the Blues a distinct edge over Go Mobile Sirens which matured in the final part of the game.

The scoring ability of John Paris, also came into the reckoning, but all in all it was good team play from the Blues which finally tilted the balance in their favour.

Sirens chased the score and, apart from their poor one on eight conversion rate, they were over-urgent in their shooting. Sliema's three on ten readings were not healthy, but the Blues' power play won them the day.

Both teams played half-zone to press with defenders closing in as possession period was about to expire.

Paris gave Sliema the lead with Montfort responding with a conversion from almost eight metres. Soler made Caruana Dingli concede a soft good, Privitera netted from a man-up to make it 2-2.

Valletta's distant shot deceived Josie Cachia to give Sirens the lead for the first time. Montfort was judged to have committed a penalty on Paris and Soler made it 3-3 from the four-metre throw. Good leg-work from Paris enabled him to outfox his shadower to give Sliema the lead. Another pot from a distance helped Privitera level the scores. Soler netted his team's first man-up on the fourth time of asking to make it 5-4 at the halfway stage.

The third session started with Sirens seeking possession on the swim-up to exploit a double-man advantage They lost that opportunity and Soler celebrated that let-off to give his team a 6-4 advantage. David Cutajar resolved a mini-break to pull a goal back.

Valletta's hurried shot on a free-throw was wasted. The Blues' had a claim for a penalty turned down when Paris was foiled in extremis. Neil Cassar broke to level matters.

In the meantime the wastefulness at both ends on man-ups continued to be a negative feature of the proceedings. Manara's man-up effort deceived Caruana Dingli, before an exquisite back-hand from Paris opened another two-goal advantage for the champions. Sirens kept messing their man-up sets with Sliema growing in confidence on Soler's clarion call. The blues' hit-man broke to open a three-goal lead.

Galea Pace converted a man-up, his team's third on ten to seal Sliema's victim.

Sliema are now back in the front line for the honours having re-established equality with Neptunes, pointwise. Sirens are a point adrift. The race for the title is set to develop into a pulsating affair.

Sliema: J. Cachia, N. Falzon, M. Manara (1), M. Galea Pace (1), P. Cachia, J. Soler (5), J. Paris (3), K. Engerer, C. Debono, F. Cutajar, R. Coleiro, I. Muscat, E. Aquilina.

Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, C. de Barro, N. Imbrol, P. Privitera (2), C. Cauchi, J. Valletta (1), J. Borg, D. Cutajar (1), K. Montfort (1), W. Degiorgio, A. Grech, J. Farrugia, N. Cassar (1).

Refs: A. Sardelitto, M. Ancilleri.

Division Two - Equilibrium prevails as Exiles and Marsaxlokk draw

Exiles 8
Marsaxlokk 8
(2-3, 3-2, 2-1, 1-2)

Champions Marsaxlokk Freeport and Exiles RMF shared 16 goals in a thrilling match of fluctuating fortunes, a result which kept both teams at the top on equal points.

The southerners had a stronger take-off and kept their opponents chasing them until well into the second session. With Marsaxlokk 5-3 in front, Exiles recovered to draw level before ends were changed.

Dirk Dowling's team took a 6-5 lead in the third quarter and two more goals at each end kept Exiles leading 7-6. The team from Sliema kept their noses in front on 8-7 as they were lured into playing out time.

A last-ditch call for time-out by coach Ronnie Spiteri proved providential as Simon Cachia somehow squeezed in on his team's last extra-man set to make it 8-8.

Exiles: D. Camilleri, M. Grima, A. Cachia, D. Pace Lupi, T. Sullivan (2), S. Grech (2), A. Sciberras, A. Bruno, K. Camilleri, S. Balzan, S. Borg (2), J. Vella, K. Lanzon.

Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, L. Cachia, J. Zammit, D. Sullivan, C. Bonello (1), S. Cachia (3), A. Privitera (4), S. Cutajar, A. Scicluna, C. Jones, D. Cassar, K. Incorvaja, R. Bonnici.

Refs: M. Dalli, I. Sciriha.

Next Fixtures:

(Wednesday) Division Two 3 p.m. Ta' Xbiex vs Otters; 4 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs San Giljan; 5 p.m. Valletta vs Exiles.

(Saturday) Division Two 3 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Valletta; 4 p.m. Exiles vs Ta' Xbiex. Division One 5 p.m. Sirens vs Neptunes.

(Sunday) Division Two 4 p.m. San Giljan vs Otters; 5 p.m. Marsascala vs Sliema.