Sirens stage late rally to save game
Neptunes 6Sirens 6(2-1, 1-0, 1-1, 2-4)\nSirens Go Mobile, under the stewardship of John Farrugia after coach Joe Attard resigned his post earlier in the week, again faced an uphill task when they were three goals behind with just over three minutes...
Neptunes 6
Sirens 6
(2-1, 1-0, 1-1, 2-4)
\nSirens Go Mobile, under the stewardship of John Farrugia after coach Joe Attard resigned his post earlier in the week, again faced an uphill task when they were three goals behind with just over three minutes left in yesterday's clash against leaders Neptunes Vodafone.
But once more they found the mental strength to gnaw their way back into the game to finally redress a 6-3 imbalance. At least they managed to save their faces.
They may have been let off the hook by opponents who erroneously thought that the result was wrapped up in their favour.
Indeed, Dirk Dowling must have had some stern words for his lads, particularly for their carelessness when giving up possession and the shooting space they afforded their opponents in the last stages of the game - a replica of the preliminary round match between these teams when Sirens managed to bridge the 5-3 deficit with a late rally.
For the record Neptunes netted twice from eight man-ups, with Sirens' card reading one from six.
Neptunes took an early lead through Charlie Zammit with his shot apparently taking an effective deflection off Niki Lanzon. They made it 2-0 again courtesy of the same player who beat the northerners' zone with a distant shot.
With 32 seconds to go for the end of the first session, Karl Montfort reduced the arrears from eight metres out.
There were few possibilities for a menacing shot or a clear break as both teams' man-marking or zone-block, left no space for any inroads. The Balluta Bay team converted their first extra-man set to go 3-1 up, with Sirens missing their third similar opportunity.
After ends were changed Neptunes' press to semi-zone prevailed with Sirens' circular zone cover still leaving no elbow-room for Galea in the hole.
The alternative for a scoring chance was a snap shot on a cross-pass or a quick-thinking individual effort.
Karl Galea eluded his opponent to make it 4-1 from an angled position. Neptunes were still a little sharper on open play with quick conversions on the hole to win possession, but Jurgen Borg found a gap on the left to cut the leeway to 4-2.
There was a series of squandered opportunities on man-ups for either side.
Sirens were two goals down with the last quarter to go. Two quick goals at each end from Edward Cachia and Jonathan Valletta preserved Neptunes' two-goal lead on 5-3.
With Joe Caruana Dingli temporarily excluded, Neptunes broke their negative sequence to go 6-3 ahead just when the Sirens goalkeeper tried to regain his position.
Clint Mercieca broke his team's duck on their seventh extra man for a 6-4 scoreline with three minutes left.
Neil Cassar brought hope for his side with Neptunes fumbling their play when giving up possession prematurely.
With 44 seconds left, Walter Degiorgio profited when Neptunes committed an attacker's foul to level matters.
Two calls for a time-out from both coaches did not yield any lasting breakthrough.
Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon, S. Camilleri, K. Galea (1), E. Cachia (1), J. Brownrigg, S. Gravina, C. Zammit (2), David Camilleri (1), M. Azzopardi, Dean Camilleri, M. Stellini, M. Pisani (1).
Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, N. Imbroll, J. Rizzo Naudi, M. Zammit, C. Cauchi, J. Valletta (1), J. Borg (1), D. Cutajar, K. Montfort (1), W. Degiorgio (1), C. Mercieca (1), J. Farrugia, N. Cassar (1).
Refs: I. Sciriha, A. Severo.
Division Two
Marsaxlokk 14
Otters 5
(3-2, 2-1, 4-1, 5-1)
Marsaxlokk: R. Debono, S. Cachia (2), R. Calleja (1), K. Incorvaja (1), N. Kerr (1), C. Bugeja (1), R. Cutajar (2), S. Cutajar, A. Privitera, K. Enriquez (3), D. Cassar (2), L. Cachia, G. Ghirxi (1), M. Cutajar, M. Fava.
Otters: R. Grech, D. Saliba (2), G. Zammit, S. Grech (1), J. Grech, C. Zammit, P. Saliba, K. Mizzi, V. Fenech, A. Tabone, S. Scicluna, M. Tabone (2), J.P. Buttigieg, M. Vella.
Refs: P. Balzan, A. Fenech.
Exiles 5
Ta' Xbiex 6
(1-1, 0-3, 3-1, 1-1)
Exiles: A. Grech, M. Grima, M. Zarb, D. Pace Lupi (2), T. Sullivan, K. Camilleri, D. Sullivan, J. Cremona (1), J.J. Tabone (1), K. Rizzo Naudi (1), A. Arrigo, J. Vella, M. Calleja, J. Cuschieri.
Ta' Xbiex: C. Sciortino, G. Attard, E. Pisani, K. Sciortino, C. D'Ugo, A. Ferò, J. Zammit (1), D. Schembri (2), T. Boyd (2), S. Balzan, P. Paolella (1), D. Debono.
Refs: M. Ancilleri, A. DeRaffaele.