The second match on yesterday's Winter League programme, between Sirens and Sliema, had to be abandoned when the fourth session was about to start.

A hard object which came from the direction of the scoreboard behind the left hand side goalposts, hit referee Peter Balzan who decided to abandon the match. At that time Sirens were leading Sliema 9-5.

It seems that the referees were unhappy with security measures being taken. Sources said they were even suffering damages to their property.

The ASA immediately decided that the last match on yesterday's programme, that between Exiles and Marsaxlokk, and today's two matches, San Giljan vs Ta' Xbiex and ASA Youths vs Sliema would be staged behind closed doors.

Yesterday's incident is expected to be discussed at the ASA Council meeting this week.

The Marsascala vs Neptunes encounter, yesterday's opening match, turned out to be another low scoring affair but all credit to Neptunes who were masters in defence as they beat the south seasiders 5-3. Although Neptunes had Karl Galea suspended they were still a class above their opponents.

Neptunes looked set for an easy win when they built a 2-0 lead in the first session through Michele Stellini and Edward Cachia. Marsascala, however, soon recovered in the second session when Tony Galea scored two goals to equalise. The first from a distant shot and the second from a fast break to make it 2-2.

The third session was a bore. Both sides opted for a pressing game and these tactics worked to perfection. But speed and class made the difference in the final session and from a man-up situation Matthew Pisani made it 3-2 and Niki Lanzon restored Neptunes' two-goal lead.

Paul Fava pulled one back for Pierre Borg's side to keep the result in the balance. Neptunes, however, made sure of victory when Charlie Zammit's hard drive from a man-up situation gave Ian Bugeja no chance.

In the next match, Sirens were in a class of their own. Their waterpolo was brilliant and Sliema could find no answer to their fast swimming and perfect passing of the ball.

Karl Montfort put the St Paul's Bay side ahead but goals from John Paris and John Soler nosed Sliema in front.

Montfort, again coming from the blind side, made it 2-2. Young M. Meli scored for the Blues but Jonathan Valletta equalised before the end of an exciting first session.

A magnificent John Soler flick made it 4-3 in the second session but Valletta's brace gave Sirens a 5-4 lead and from this point onward it was all Sirens. Jurgen Borg scored again although Soler kept Sliema in the game with another goal.

Sirens were superior in the third session scoring three times without reply through Montfort, Neil Cassar and David Cutajar.

When all looked set for the start of the final session there was the incident already mentioned and the decision to abandon the match.

In the third and last match of the programme, Exiles took some time to cut loose against Marsaxlokk. It was only in the last session that Marco Manara's side made sure of the game and went on to win 7-1.

Exiles' Rizzo Naudi had a good match also scoring a hat-trick.

Yesterday's Summaries

Neptunes 5
Marsascala 3
(2-0, 0-2, 0-0, 3-1)

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon (1), S. Camilleri, E. Cachia (1), J. Brownrigg, A. Galea, C. Zammit (1), D. Camilleri, M. Azzopardi, M. Stellini (1), M. Pisani (1), S. Gravina.

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

Referees: M. Dalli, A. DeRaffaele.

Sirens 9
Sliema 5
(3-3, 3-2, 3-0, -)
(abandoned before last session)

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

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

Referees: Miro Caruana, Peter Balzan.

Exiles 7
Marsaxlokk 1
(2-1, 1-0, 1-0, 3-0)

Exiles: A. Grech, M. Grima, M. Zarb, D. Pace Lupi (2), K. Camilleri, A. Arrigo, J. Cremona, D. Sullivan, S. Decesare, K. Rizzo Naudi (3), J. Vella (1), M. Calleja (1).

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

Referees: A. Farrugia, M. Dalli.