Sirens dismiss Marsascala in low-profile match

Marsascala 2
(1-1, 0-2, 1-1, 0-1)
Sirens 5

Any comparisons with Friday's epic contest between rivals Sliema and Neptunes would be superfluous. Clashes between these two sides have a distinct flavour which neither 2X Sirens nor Marsascala Breakers can hardly ever match.

That is also mirrored in the size of the crowd and the animation on the terraces as was the case on Friday. The relative dearth of goals, seven in all, added to the low-profile texture of the match, even considering that the difference between the teams was not all that pronounced.

In the end, the result went the way of the more seasoned team though not by a big margin.

It was all square at the end of the opening quarter which produced little excitement. There was no effective driving inside the respective four-metre zones and defensive cover was mainly press with a shield closing in on the centre as the possession period was about to expire.

Sirens exploited two man-up sets through Clint Mercieca and Juergen Borg to take a 3-1 lead in the second session which they held till the halfway mark. The first had produced only one goal apiece.

The reliable Karl Montfort netted from the 'three' position when Marsascala were a man less, to extend the northerners' advantage to 4-1. In any case, Sirens were the smarter lot with their knack of producing the unexpected ploy to breach the opposing defensive cover.

But that virtuosity was provided by Marsascala's Anthony Galea who flipped in expertly after releasing himself to make it 4-2.

The proceedings ambled on quietly during the final quarter with Sirens adding another goal late in the game through Mercieca.

It was almost a moratorium following Friday's cracking duel.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, C. Spiteri De Barro, A. Galea 1, P. Privitera, C. Gialanze, J. Xerri De Caro, J. Licari 1, L. Grixti, S. Micallef, B. Cutajar, P. Fava, D. Ciappara, S. Farrugia.

Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, A. Grech, J. Rizzo Naudi, K. Rizzo Naudi, C. Cauchi, J. Valletta, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar, K. Montfort 1, C. Zammit, C. Mercieca 2, R. Attard, N. Cassar 1.

Refs: Miro Caruana, Alex De Raffaele.

Marsaxlokk 8
(1-1, 3-5, 1-2, 3-3)
San Giljan 11

Heavier guns, sharper finishing and opportunistic goals made all the difference between San Giljan Foster Clark and Marsaxlokk Freeport in yesterday's first match.

The Saints were effectively in the driving seat in a high-scoring second session after which they were able to administer their advantage.

A low-scoring first quarter was followed by eight goals in the second session with the Saints edging in front on a 6-4 scoreline before ends were changed. It had been tit-for-tat early on but for two late goals netted by Silvio Borg late in the second part of the game.

In their effort to block Matthew Zammit, the southerners were inadvertently leaving the Saints' outside men unmarked especially on set play.

At one point in the third session, and also thanks to the chances snapped up by Clyde Bonello, scorer of a hat-trick, the team guided by player-coach Ian Azzopardi were 8-4 up before the battling Marsaxlokk bridged the gap to one goal.

Simon Cachia's hat-trick had helped to give the southseasiders some hope. However, Zammit, scorer of four goals, had no peers and the Saints were able to restore their three-goal cushion which they maintained till the end.

Marsaxlokk: R. Bonnici, S. Cachia 3, R. Calleja, A. Farrugia 1, N. Kerr 1, C. Bugeja 1, C. Jones, S. Cutajar 1, K. Incorvaja, M. Rizzo, D. Cassar, M. Cutajar, G. Zammit 1.

San Giljan: K. Schembri, K. Lanzon 1, K. D'Ugo, C. Bonello 3, G. Ghirxi, M. Zammit 4, I. Azzopardi, M. Pace, G. Farrugia, A. Borda, S. Borg 2, J. Spiteri, K. Grima Scott 1.

Refs: Peter Balzan, Massimo Ancilleri.

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