Wins for big teams as pre-summer competition gets underway

The pre-summer league programme lifted off yesterday with the fancied teams of Sliema Burger King, Neptunes Vodafone, Sirens Go Mobile and Marsascala Breakers all registering expected victories over opponents who participated in the Second Division summer league in recent seasons.

In the first match, Sliema took some time to cut loose against San Giljan Kia Motors, led by Alfred Cachia.

Until half-way, the teams were sharing 12 goals, but when ends were changed the Blues' staying power and tactical adaptability held sway.

Three and seven goals in the last two sessions against one conceded made it a comfortable victory for Peter Decesare's team.

It was a much easier kick-start for Neptunes in the second match as they rammed seven goals without reply in the first session to pin down Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise.

From then on it was a casual stroll for Dirk Dowling's understrength team with constant permutations in their deployment of players in the water.

Ta' Xbiex, led by Aldo Scerri, were out of their depth and left the water on the wrong end of a massive 24-3 scoreline.

After a drawn first session, Sirens took matters in hand to beat Exiles RMF 9-3.

Three goals in the second quarter made it a sufficient cushion for the St Paul's Bay team to ease their way to victory.

Marco Manara's team, although tactically well-prepared, did not have the staying power of Sirens.

In the last match on yesterday's card, Marsascala had the better of neighbours Marsaxlokk Freeport, who presented a new-look formation, to the tune of ten goals to three.

A six-nil buffer for Pierre Borg's boys by the end of the second session was extended by a one-goal margin in the latter part of the game, as Marsaxlokk put some gritty resistance.

Yesterday's summaries

Sliema 16
San Giljan 7

(3-3, 3-3, 3-0, 7-1)

Sliema: J. Cachia, J.J. Tabone, E. Aquilina (3), D. Paolella (1), M. Meli (1), J. Soler (2), J. Paris (4), K. Engerer, C. Debono (1), F. Cutajar (2), G. Lubrano, I. Muscat (2), A. Bianchi, R. Coleiro.

San Giljan: J. Spiteri, K. D'Ugo, S. Mercieca, C. Bonello, P. Cachia, M. Zammit (2), I. Azzopardi, I. Camilleri, G. Farrugia (3), S. Borg (2), M. Pace, A. Borda, D. Dimech.

Referees: M. Dalli, P. Balzan.

Neptunes 24
Ta' Xbiex 3

(7-0, 8-2, 5-0, 4-1)

Neptunes: D. Camilleri, N. Lanzon, S. Camilleri (8), S. Gravina (2), E. Cachia, J. Brownrigg (2), A. Galea, C. Zammit, D. Camilleri (2), M. Azzopardi (5), A. Sammut, M. Stellini (2), M. Pisani (3).

Ta' Xbiex: C. Sciortino, G. Attard, E. Pisani, K. Sciortino (1), C. D'Ugo, A. Fero, P. Paolella, D. Schembri (1), T. Boyd, S. Balzan, T. Zammit, F. Testa (1), P. Dimech.

Referees: M. Dalli, M. Ancilleri.

Sirens 9
Exiles 3

(1-1, 3-0, 2-1, 3-1)

Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, M. Vella, J. Rizzo Naudi, M. Zammit, C. Cauchi (1), J. Valletta, J. Borg (1), D. Cutajar (1), K. Montfort (2), W. Degiorgio, R. D'Amato, J. Farrugia (1), N. Cassar (3), N. Imbroll.

Exiles: A. Grech, M. Grima, M. Zarb, D. Pace Lupi (1), J. Cuschieri, K. Camilleri, A. Arrigo, J. Cremona (1), D. Sullivan, S. Decesare, K. Rizzo Naudi, J. Vella (1), M. Calleja.

Referees: M. Ancilleri, M. Caruana.

Marsascala 10
Marsaxlokk 3

(3-0, 3-0, 3-2, 1-1)

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, C. Spiteri DeBarro (2), A. Galea, P. Privitera (1), C. Gialanze (1), J. Xerri de Caro (3), J. Licari (1), L. Grixti, S. Micallef, K. Lanzon, P. Fava, M. Borg (2), D. Ciappara, S. Farrugia.

Marsaxlokk: R. Bonnici, S. Cachia, R. Calleja (1), K. Incorvaja, N. Kerr, C. Bugeja, R. Cutajar (1), M. Fava, G. Ghirxi (1), C. Enriquez, D. Cassar, L. Cachia, A. Privitera.

Referees: M. Caruana, A. Farrugia.