There was never any doubt as to which team would win the points; there was expectation for a reaction by the Exiles team as it faced in a row within a week,the last of the top three teams, San Giljan. The start of the match was encouraging with the boys keeping up with a stronger outfit that fielded three foreigners including ex-Exiles Player and Coach Aurelien Cousin. The 1-4 partial score after the first quarter did no reflect the exchanges in the pool. Exiles forged ahead with a fine finishing of Romain Blary who in the centre  rarely misses the final shot. San Giljan converted their first three man-ups to turn the tide but with the score reading 1-2 Exiles had an opportunity to break, but one of the referees thought otherwise and gave a contra foul in the attack. In the second session Exiles suffered another three expulsions but managed to defend its fort with fine saves by keeper Ian Bugeja. San Giljan did score at leisure to build an unassailable lead of seven goals (1-8) at the half-way, thanks to lack of concentration by some of the players and which cost the teams dearly. Somehow it is the build-up of the attacks that is telling on the team’s downfall and more accuracy in the passing will reap better results.

Exiles won the third session 2-1 as Exiles scored their only man-up out of the five at their disposal throughout the whole encounter. San Giljan fumbled the other five man-ups. The last session (4-5) registered nine goals but was a formality when both coaches rotated their players for contrasting reasons: San Giljan Coach  Orlovic gave precious time to the promising youngsters on the bench whilst Italian Maurizio Mirarchi tried all the tricks to try and end up the match with the least  damage. Even when our opponents put in their second goalkeeper (3-9), more was expected in the team’s finishing  but this was erratic.

Coach Mirarchi  made use of  eleven players, Ian Bugeja, Julian Rizzo Naudi, Simon Vassallo,David Pace Lupi, Romain Blary (2 goals), James Spiteri Staines, Sean Gravina, Kurt Griscti, Andrea Bianchi, Marco Cuk (5 goals), and Kayne Lanzon. Goalkeeper David Abela and Philip Paris were not utilized.

kafa

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