Exiles started the Winter League campaign with a defeat at the hands of Valleta United. The Citizens took the opportunity of a slow start of their opponents to build a comfortable advantage of seven goals (8-1) before Exiles fought back but they never got close and finished the match with a seven-goal deficit at the final horn (3-10).

During the third and fourth sessions, Exiles showed signs of re-action but fared too poorly the conversions when in numerical advantage to get them back in the match. As both teams tired out, the match was characterized by exclusions and contra-fouls which had their toil and was reflected in the tempo of the game.

One positive factor was the number of exclusions won by Exiles during the whole encounter – 10 of which only one was converted by Nicky Paris. There was on penalty awarded to Exiles and which Andrea Bianchi made no mistake whilst Sean Gravina scored the other goal for the team. Valletta had six man-ups and converted two of them. Exiles’ attacks towards the Citizens’ fort were sterile and predictable. Quick and sharper reflexes on the few breaks created would have resulted in better finishing in a much expected closer tussle.

For newly appointed Coach Dorian Pisani, it was his official debut on the Exiles’ bench and was assisted by Matthew Pisani.

Dorian, made use of  the following players Ian Bugeja, Julian Rizzo Naudi, David Pace Lupi, Daniel Borg Millo, Sean Gravina, Kurt Griscti, Nicky Paris, Andrea Bianchi, Gianni Ciappara, Luca Peric and Kayne Lanzon.

Next match is scheduled for Saturday 5th March against San Giljan at 17.00 hours.

KaFa

photo by Adrian Farrugia

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