Sirens Ritter Sport 13
Valletta McDonalds 5

(2-1, 5-2, 2-2, 4-0)

Sirens Ritter Sport reached the knock-out semi finals after beating Valletta McDonald’s with a convincing 13-5 score, a result which pits them against Neptunes.

The winners, without the suspended coach Marco Baldinetti, were clearly the superior side and practically made sure of the result in the opening two sessions.

Valletta were out of sorts and could hardly make an impression on their more alert opponents for whom Sergi Mora, the sharp-shooting Marc Grech and captain David Cutajar each netted a hat-trick, with utility player Gabriel Pace also among the scorers with two goals. The other conversions came from John Napier and Luke Caruana.

The only time Valletta were in the lead was early in the match through Michael Spiteri Staines. From then on the northerners were firmly in control.

They led 7-3 at the halfway stage. After the change of ends Sirens extended their advantage, only for Daniel Paolella to hit a brace.

Any hopes for a Valletta recovery were soon dissolved after the tightly-marked Dmitrii Kholod and Michael Spiteri Staines reached the three exclusions limit.

That left Valletta with no oxygen in their tank.

It was no surprise that they conceded four more goals for a comprehensive defeat, the second against Sirens after they had beaten them 13-11 in the first round match of the Premier Division.

Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Mizzi, S. Mora 3, G. Pace 2, M. Grech 3, I. Riolo, M. Balucci, D. Cutajar 3, J. Napier 1, J. Sciberras, L. Caruana 1, N. Farrugia, J. Cremona.

Valletta: R. Sciortino, J. Spiteri Staines, A. Agius, M. Rizzo 1, A. Mifsud, R. Mock, D. Paolella 2, N. Bonello Ghio, M. Cordina, C. Zammit 1, D. Kholod, A. Zarb Cousin, M. Spiteri Staines 1.

Referees: M. Bianchi, R. Spiteri.

Today's quater-final
San Ġiljan vs Sliema - 19.00