VALLETTA 7
SAN ĠILJAN 11
(3-4, 1-0; 1-2, 2-5)
San Ġiljan pulled away in the last session when Dorian Pisani started drafting in a couple of established players in the water to keep them in the hunt for the ENEMED Cup. They will now meet Sliema on Thursday for a place in this weekend’s final.
Three-goal Ben Plumpton managed to lift his side in crucial moments, while Nikolai Zammit, who also scored a hat-trick, was not enough to save Valletta.
San Ġiljan surged into a 4-2 lead before Nikolai Zammit pushed Valletta one goal adrift at the end of the opening session.
Valletta goalkeeper Thomas Micallef distinguished himself with some fine blocks in the second session as an early goal from Niki Lanzon saw both teams level on 4-4 at half-time.
An aggressive feud between Micallef and Ben Plumpton went unnoticed and this drew a strong reaction from the Valletta clan.
Plumpton put his team in front in the third session before the hard-working Niki Lanzon equalised on 5-5. Still San Ġiljan edged the session 2-1 to go 6-5 up before the final quarter.
The Saints were superior on their scoring rate when the sides were numerically at par as they pulled away in the last session.
Plumpton and Andreas Galea scored two goals apiece with Darren Zammit netted his second goal of the evening, which enabled the Saints to cruise to a comforable victory.
Nikolai Zammit’s brace cut down a five-goal deficit late in the match.
Valletta: T. Micallef, P. Borg, E. Aquilina, M. Stellini 1, A. Agius, R. Mock, D. Paolella, N. Farrugia, M. Zammit, N. Zammit 3, N. Lanzon 3, R. Sciortino.
San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, D. Zahra, A. Galea 2, D. Fero, R. Caruana, M. Zammit, M. Ortoleva 2, J. Bonavia, D. Ciantar, Darren Zammit 2, K. Galea 1, Dino Zammit 1, B. Plumpton 3, G. Vassallo.
Refs: Peter Balzan, Stefan Licari.
