San Ġiljan and Sliema see off opponents easily

San Ġiljan and Sliema McDonald's broke no sweat when seeing off Sirens Ritter Sport and Marsascala respectively, thus consolidating their places in the upper part of the table.

The Saints had little difficulty in disposing of Sirens in the first match of the evening and this courtesy of a 10-goal flurry in the opening sessions.

The St Paul's Bay team had no response to their opponents' incisive play which had Matthew Zammit and Edward Aquilina netting the bulk of the goals. Andrea Bianchi hit a hat-trick, with these three players contributing 11 of their side's 16 conversions.

On three occasions in the third session, the Saints were eight goals in front and in complete cruise control. Sirens pulled some strings and eventually made the scoreline less gaping with naphand scorer David Cutajar sparking this mini-recovery.

The Northenders had been aided by numerous San Ġiljan substitutions, two of which involving those of Zammit and Bianchi being forced ones after a third personal fault. There had never been any doubt about the outcome.

In the second match, Marsascala could pose no threat to the Blues who started strongly before several of their fringe players, put in as early as the second session, accounted for a temporary slowing down in the scoring rate.

With most of their big men back in the water, Sliema were again up to their earlier scoring rhythm in the third quarter which ended 6-1 in their favour.

Back to their less heavy units, the Blues were still able to add to the scoreline in identical second-session fashion, with Mark Meli pitching up his total to seven conversions to make it an 11-goal tally over the last two days.

The chasm between the two teams had made for a no-contest with the match petering out to a tame ending on a cool evening.

Summaries

Sirens 11
San Ġiljan 16
(1-5, 2-5, 3-4, 5-2)

Sirens: J. Sammut, A. Attard 2, P. Micallef, P. Borg 2, A. Sammut, R. Mock, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar 5, O. Zammit, C. Zammit, C. Mercieca 1, D. Zammit, J. Cremona.

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro 2, M. Pace 1, K. Galea 1, C. Gialanze 1, M. Zammit 4, R. Scerri, A. Bianchi 3, E. Aquilina 4, A. Borda, P. Fava, K. Dowling, K. Schembri.

Referees: M. Ancilleri, A. DeRaffaele.

Sliema 20
Marsascala 6
(6-1, 4-2, 6-1, 4-2)

Sliema: A. Bianchi, M. Spiteri Staines, N. Lubrano 2, P. Privitera 2, M. Meli 7, J. Soler 2, D. Paolella, J. Brownrigg 2, C. Debono 1, J. Spiteri Staines 1, M. Rizzo 3, M. Cordina, R. Coleiro.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, J.C. Cutajar 2, G. Pace 1, M. Manara, L. Griscti, R. Attard 1, J. Bonnici, S. Micallef 1, E. Bonello 1, D. Cassar, D. Abela.

Referees: P. Giordano, M. Caruana.