Neptunes, Sirens glide through

Sirens 13
Exiles 3
(2-1, 5-2, 1-0, 5-0)

A Four-goal burst in the space of 90 seconds half-way through the second session brought the expected sanity in the ranks of Sirens Go Mobile, who were then able to change ends 7-3 in the lead against Exiles RMF and thus procure the base for a comfortable victory.

The team from Sliema had just nullified a two-goal deficit and for some time looked as if they could give their opponents a good run for their spoils.

With Alan Grech in goal looking solid and his colleagues giving the Sirens players little freedom of movement, Exiles were a competitive lot as they shifted from semi-zone cover to press.

Although the St Paul's Bay team seemed to be high and dry, their scoring rate, with a low man-up conversion record, was at times not as brisk as they would have liked.

At least, their number one hitman Valletta was there to apply the coup de grâce when it mattered.

Sirens, using more tailenders, picked up their scoring momentum in the closing session.

Five goals in that last quarter rounded up their victory to more familiar proportions.

Exiles, on their part, disappointed mainly on their extra-man sets with a nil rate on five.

Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, C. Spiteri Debarro, K. Rizzo Naudi, J. Rizzo Naudi (2), C. Cauchi (1), J. Valletta (4), J. Borg (1), D. Cutajar (1), K. Montfort (2), W. Degiorgio, S. Cachia, J. Farrugia, N. Cassar (2), R. D'Amato, N. Imbroll.

Exiles: A. Grech, M. Grima, M. Zarb, D. Pace Lupi (1), T. Sullivan, K. Camilleri, A. Arrigo, J.J. Tabone, S. Balzan, S. Borg (1), J. Vella, M. Calleja, M. Psaila (1), J. Cuschieri.

Refs: M. Dalli/A. DeRaffaele.

San Giljan 13
Otters 8
(1-2, 4-3, 5-2, 3-1)

San Giljan only came alive in the third session against an improved Otters to finally pull away and register their first victory of the season.

The team from Gozo, under the charge of Paul Dimech, were very much on a par with the Saints in the opening quarters which ended on 5-5.

Indeed, they nosed in front no fewer than three times with Marc Tabone, scorer of a hat-trick, taking his chances well.

On the other hand, Patrick Cachia's scoring instincts could not be dismissed as his four goals amply testified.

After that breakthrough in the third part of the game, which had given Tony Camilleri's team a 9-5 momentary lead, things looked less bleak for the Saints, despite the Otters' partial recovery when they pulled back two goals to make it 10-8 early in the last session.

But three late goals by the Saints gave them a more respectable victory.

San Giljan: K. Schembri, C. Bonello, S. Mercieca, M. Camilleri, N. Kerr (1), M. Zammit (3), I. Azzopardi (1), P. Cachia (4), G. Farrugia (2), Ant. Borda, G. Ghirxi (1), Ad. Borda, K. Grima Scott (1), J. Spiteri.

Otters: A. Sciberras, J. Cefai, G.L. Zammit (1), J. Mercieca (1), K. Vella, C. Zammit, P. Saliba (1), K. Mizzi, J.P. Buttigieg, D. Zammit (2), D. Saliba, M. Tabone (3), J. Cassar.

Refs: M. Ancilleri/A. Farrugia.

Neptunes 15
Marsaxlokk 2
(3-0, 3-1, 5-1, 4-0)

Without any undue exertion, Neptunes Vodafone made short shrift of Marsaxlokk Freeport in yesterday's last match.

Unquestionably, the Reds of Balluta Bay were constantly in the driving seat, never mind their apparent reluctance to press the accelerator to full extent.

However, Neptunes betrayed signs of clumsiness, both in execution as well as on ill-timed passes.

On their part, Marsaxlokk played well within their limitations, despite having to go for time-wasting ploys to deny their opponents possession.

With Neptunes leading 6-1 at the half-way mark, they nevertheless maintained a steady stream of substitutions to give all their men a feel of the water.

In the meantime, it was a brisk-scoring evening for Malcolm Azzopardi, who netted five of his team's 15 goals.

Amid hasty and erratic conclusions and a host of unforced errors, Neptunes kept faltering in their scoring tempo, even if they won handsomely.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon (1), S. Camilleri (1), K. Galea (2), E. Cachia, J. Brownrigg, J. Licari, C. Zammit (2), D. Camilleri (1), M. Azzopardi (5), Dean Camilleri, M. Stellini, M. Pisani (3), S. Gravina.

Marsaxlokk: R. Bonnici, D. Sullivan (1), R. Calleja, K. Incorvaja, K. Camilleri, C. Bugeja, A. Privitera (1), S. Cutajar, M. Borg, C. Jones, D. Cassar, G. Borg, G. Zammit.

Refs: P. Balzan/M. Caruana.