Cruising outings for Neptunes, Marsascala, Ta' Xbiex
Neptunes 18San Giljan 3(5-1, 4-0, 5-0, 4-2)\nA first session 5-1 cushion made sure that Neptunes Vodafone would romp home against neighbours San Giljan and in so doing register their third successive victory. The futility of these preliminary matches...
Neptunes 18
San Giljan 3
(5-1, 4-0, 5-0, 4-2)
\nA first session 5-1 cushion made sure that Neptunes Vodafone would romp home against neighbours San Giljan and in so doing register their third successive victory.
The futility of these preliminary matches needs no over-stressing. The big guns simply procure the assurance in the opening sessions and follow up by utilising all their manjack in subsequent sessions.
Neptunes did just that after changing ends 9-1 ahead. They gave all their men a feel of the water - in their case they are still opting to put down 13 players on their list rather than 15.
The Reds blocked effectively on a mid-pitch press, a ploy which gave the Saints no avenue towards Nicky Gouder or Dean Camilleri. When in possession, Dirk Dowling's lads showed versatility. They netted on the counter, broke passes to exploit openings and were faultless in their seven man-up situations.
Meanwhile, their advantage was extended to 14-1 before the last session started. San Giljan could do nothing right. At least Keith Grima Scott brought them some consolation with a hat-trick. But the swaggering goals were provided by the likes of Niki Lanzon and Karl Galea, each scorer of a poker.
Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon (4), S. Camilleri (2), K. Galea (4), E. Cachia (1), S. Gravina (1), J. Licari (1), C. Zammit, David Camilleri (1), M. Azzopardi, Dean Camilleri, M. Stellini (3), M. Pisani (1).
San Giljan: K. Schembri, C. Bonello, S. Mercieca, M. Camilleri, N. Kerr, M. Zammit, I. Azzopardi, P. Cachia, G. Farrugia, An. Borda, G. Ghirxi, Ad. Borda, K. Grima Scott (3), J. Spiteri, K. D'Ugo.
Refs: P. Balzan, M. Caruana.
Marsascala 14
Marsaxlokk 4
(3-2, 4-0, 2-1, 5-1)
The derby of the south between Marsascala Breakers and Masaxlokk Freeport had the same texture as that seen in the Neptunes-San Giljan encounter - the goodies were provided by a faster, more potent Marsascala outfit, despite their opponents' stiff stand early on.
Mark Farrugia's team finished the opening session only one goal adrift as their tight press allowed their opponents little space to inflict any damage after sliding to an early 3-0 deficit.
The alert Anthony Galea filled in the goal-scoring onus, left vacant by the unfit Clint Mercieca, more than adequately. His brace in the second session, a penalty from Zammit and an opportunistic goal from the improving Lanzon brought more serenity in Marsascala's ranks as they changed sides 7-2 in the lead.
If Pierre Borg had derived more from his outfit - yesterday not utilising Paul Privitera - on man-up sets, then the scoreline would have been more convincing. Marsaxlokk were equally erratic in this respect.
It was the turn of the speedster Christian Gialanze to give his team a more respectable victory. He netted a hat-trick in the latter sessions, the other goals coming from Stephen Micallef and Karl Enriquez.
Marsascala: I. Bugeja, P. Fava, A. Galea (4), P. Privitera, C. Gialanze (3), J. Xerri De Caro, M. Borg, J. Cremona, K. Lanzon (1), K. Enriquez (1), S. Micallef (1), M. Zammit (3), D. Ciappara (1), R. Cutajar, A. Tanti.
Marsaxlokk: R. Bonnici, D. Sullivan, R. Calleja, K. Incorvaja, K. Camilleri, C. Bugeja (2), A. Privitera, S. Cutajar (1), A. Cassar, C. Jones, D. Cassar, M. Borg, G. Zammit (1), G. Borg, M. Fava.
Refs: M. Ancilleri, A. Farrugia.
Ta' Xbiex 11
Otters 2
(2-1, 4-0, 1-1, 4-0)
After lowering the colours of Exiles in their previous match, Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise were not expected to falter at the expense of bottom-of-the-table Otters ASC.
They had sufficient knowhow to collect the points. Their lift-off was not very productive and it was only a late burst from Travis Boyd in the first session that gave them a 2-1 lead.
Into the second quarter and seven minutes on and the advantage was more reassuring. Four goals made it 6-1, as the Gozitans started tiring out.
The turnover in the ranks of Ta' Xbiex, in terms of substitutions, was quite brisk. Not so could be said for their man-up sets as the early one on six reading showed.
The stamina ran drip-dry in Paul Dimech's team and Ta' Xbiex were in a position to maintain their cruising tempo.
Julian Degabriele helped his team reach double figures before Pisani completed his brace.
Ta' Xbiex: C. Sciortino, G. Attard, E. Pisani (2), G. Stellini, C. D'Ugo, K. Sciortino (1), J. Zammit (2), D. Schembri (2), T. Boyd (1), A. Ferò, K. Saliba, F. Testa, W. Privitera (2), J. Degabriele (1), D. Debono.
Otters: A. Sciberras, J. Cefai, G. L. Zammit, M. Camilleri (1), J. Grech, C. Zammit, P. Saliba, K. Mizzi (1), J. P. Buttigieg, D. Zammit, D. Saliba, S. Grech, J. Mercieca.
Refs: P. Balzan, A. De Raffaele.