Routine wins on second day

There were routine victories for the top teams in yesterday's programme of the Winter League.

Sliema Burger King were far superior to Marsaxlokk Freeport in the opening match and a thick 11-0 cushion before ends were changed induced the Blues to put in more of their tailenders. They were still good enough to coast home in the last two sessions to end up clear-cut winners.

Marsascala Breakers took a little longer to impose their authority on San Giljan Kia Motors. But as time went by, their superior skills and shooting power helped them extend their lead to sufficiently comfortable levels. The Saints tried to limit the damage to a minimum and succeeded partially in doing so.

A brisk 5-0 opening session by Sirens Go Mobile put them on a safe course against Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise. But then they grew careless in their finishing and in the next two quarters they could only extend that advantage by a solitary goal.

Ta' Xbiex played with resilience but, understandably, they could not match the qualities of the team from St Paul's Bay. At least they avoided the thumping they suffered in their opening match.

Fast breaks and snappy shooting were Neptunes Vodafone's principal weapons when they beat Exiles RMF in yesterday's final match. The Balluta Bay team, with more established players in the water than in their last match, pressed the accelerator in the first and third sessions to build a 10-3 advantage.

To their credit, Marco Manara's team kept playing positive waterpolo. However, they could not match their opponents' sharpness and staying power and finally succumbed 14-5.

Yesterday's Summaries

Marsaxlokk 2
Sliema 17
(0-5 0-6 1-3 1-3)

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

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

Referees: M. Ancilleri, P. Balzan.

Marsascala 11
San Giljan 5
(2-0 3-2 3-2 3-1)

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, C. Spiteri DeBarro (1), A. Galea, P. Privitera (1), C. Gialanze (2), J. Xerri de Caro, J. Licari, L. Grixti, S. Micallef (1), K. Lanzon (1), P. Fava (4), M. Borg Spiteri, D. Ciappara (1).

San Giljan: K. Schembri, K. D'Ugo, S. Mercieca, C. Bonello, P. Cachia (2), M. Zammit (3), I. Azzopardi, J. Camilleri, G. Farrugia, Ant. Borda, M. Pace, K. Grima Scott, Adam Borda, J. Spiteri.

Referees: M. Caruana, A. Farrugia.

Ta' Xbiex 3
Sirens 11
(0-5 2-3 1-1 0-2)

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

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

Referees: M. Dalli, I. Sciriha.

Neptunes 14
Exiles 5
(4-1 2-2 4-0 4-2)

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

Exiles: A. Grech, M. Grima (1), M. Zarb, D. Pace Lupi, K. Rizzo Naudi (1), K. Camilleri, D. Sullivan, S. Decesare, A. Arrigo, J. Vella (1), M. Calleja (2), J. Cuschieri.

Referees: M. Dalli, A. DeRaffaele.