Fleur de Lys Office Group beat Valletta San Antonio in top of the table clash

Fleur de Lys are the new Men’s Super League leaders after beating Valletta 3-1 in a keenly contested match played on Sunday. In another match, Mgarr also beat Yahoos 3-1.

Fleur de Lys Office Group vs Valletta San Antonio: 3-1 (29-27; 25-18; 19-25; 25-17)

FDL and Valletta had both won three matches prior to this match and both needed a win to go to the top of the table. Valletta had won the first encounter in the Super Cup and were confident they could repeat their performance; FDL needed to win this game to prove they still retain the qualities that crowned them champions last year. The game turned out to be well contested with both sides having good offensive moments and both liberos working hard to keep the ball in play. Valletta took a 16-9 lead and seemed to be in control of the first set but FDL improved their reception and attack and put Valletta under pressure to claw their way back up. With the score reading 23-23 Valletta had two set points but could not close off so that both teams won a point at a time until FDL’s services decided the issue in their favour 29 – 27. FDL were the better team in the second set. They built a 3 point lead which they retained throughout the set, extending it at the end to win the set 25-18. Valletta fought back in the third set and showed more concentration. It was they who reached the first and second technical time-outs first and this time they did not allow FDL to recover so that they won the set 25-19. The fourth set saw both teams try to take control but after taking a narrow 13-12 lead, FDL became more efficient in their attacks and went on to win the set 25-17 and the game 3-1.

Mgarr vs Yahoos 3-1 (25-13; 23-25; 25-19; 25-14)

Mgarr and Yahoos had both lost their previous three games and needed a win to avoid being rooted at the bottom of the table. Mgarr had the better start and took a 6-1 lead through good services. They extended their lead and won the first set comfortably but became complacent in the second set, losing their superiority and allowing Yahoos to get back into the game. The latter’s experienced players, even if more veteran, did not commit any errors and took control of the set to build a 24-20 lead. Mgarr reacted strongly, but a spiking error from their middle player put Yahoos on a level score. Mgarr regrouped their team and made full use of their foreign duo who systematically placed Yahoos under constant pressure winning the 3rd and 4th sets comfortably.