Sirens' power sinks Neptunes
Neptunes 6Sirens 8(1-4, 2-4, 1-0, 2-0)\n2x Sirens yesterday produced a super display of powerful waterpolo, backed by solid defensive work to outplay an otherwise Neptunes Vodafone who never lived in the same streets of their opponents in terms of...
Neptunes 6
Sirens 8
(1-4, 2-4, 1-0, 2-0)
\n2x Sirens yesterday produced a super display of powerful waterpolo, backed by solid defensive work to outplay an otherwise Neptunes Vodafone who never lived in the same streets of their opponents in terms of tactics, shooting ability and forceful driving when in possession particularly, in the first two quarters.
On this form, the team headed by ex-player John Farrugia, now turned coach, look a good bet to wrest the title from Sliema Burger King. Their latest victory, besides helping them to go two points clear at the top of the table, should be a morale-booster.
Such was their ascendancy in all facets of the game, especially in their alertness to read every situation, that the destination of points was a foregone conclusion as early as the middle part of the second session.
By then, the irresistible Clint Mercieca, scorer of four goals, had been their inspiration, with Charlie Zammit, who was discarded by Neptunes in the pre-season, also making an impact on the game.
True, Sirens were helped by a terribly disappointing Neptunes who were found wanting on zone cover as well as on almost every occasion they were in possession.
Their hopes of a class-striking championship success, after 13 barren years, have now well and truly vanished. Not even Sergio Afric, who hit the poker with every team he guided, could do the trick for them on the second time of asking.
The Reds opened the score through Karl Galea but Mercieca soon equalised. Sirens took over at this point when Zammit put them ahead.
Neptunes' semi-zone was rather risky and when Sirens were again a man over, Zammit made it 3-1, only for Mercieca to open a 4-1 lead again from a man-up set.
Zone at Sirens' end was closing all avenues for Neptunes' otherwise static open play. Niki Lanzon netted on his team's second man-up in the subsequent session to reduce the gap to 4-2.
Jonathan Valletta trailed inside Neptunes' seven metre-zone and with the Reds messing up their break the Sirens captain was quickly served before he obliged with a fifth goal.
Neptunes were in complete dissarray as Mercieca, followed by Zammit scored goals number six and seven. Lanzon made it 7-3 from a penalty before Mercieca converted Sirens' sixth man up to re-instate Sirens' five goal advantage.
In a largely uneventful third session, Neptunes, who had now changed to press cover, pulled a goal back through Gravina's seven-metre shot.
With the score at 8-4 for Sirens, the Neptunes' lack of shooting accuracy played into the hands of their shrewd opponents who could now calm down the tempo of their game.
Theirs was after all a comfortable lead and John Farrugia appeared unperturbed. Time ran out for Neptunes who constantly faced a maze of zone cover. Steve Camilleri's penalty and Lanzon's goal had only reduced the scoreline to decent proportions for Neptunes.
Time was against them and so was their ability to raise their game.
For Sirens the outlook cannot but be bright now. By contrast the Balluta team are facing the reality of being once again under-achievers.
Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 3, S. Gravina 1, K. Galea 1, E. Cachia, J. Brownrigg, S. Camilleri 1, J. Bonnici, D. Camilleri, M. Azzopardi, A. Sammut, M. Stellini, M. Pisani.
Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, A. Grech, J. Rizzo Naudi, K. Rizzo Naudi, C. Cauchi, J. Valletta 1, J. Borg, D. Cutajar, K. Montfort, C. Zammit 3, C. Mercieca 4, R. Attard, N. Cassar.
Refs: M. Dalli, A. Severo.
Division Two
Exiles 21
Otters 4
(5-2, 4-0, 4-1, 8-1)
Exiles: J. Cuschieri, M. Grima, M. Zarb 1, A. Borg Cole, T. Sullivan 7; K. Camilleri, G. Desira Buttigieg 1, J. Cremona 1, J.J. Tabone 1, M. Calleja 3, A. Arrigo, J. Vella 6; W. Privitera 1.
Otters: R. Grech, D. Saliba, G.L. Zammit, S. Grech 4, J. Zammit, J.P. Buttigieg, P. Saliba, K. Mizzi, J. Cefai, F. Bajada, E. Farrugia, S. Dimech, B. Pavia.
Refs: M. Ancilleri, P. Giordano.
Valletta 9
San Giljan 12
(1-2, 4-2, 2-5, 2-3)
Valletta: E. Arrigo, G. Sammut 1, M. Camilleri, Mauro Camilleri, D. Degiorgio, D. Saliba 1, A. Galea 3, J.C. Farrugia 1, F. Testa, C. Saliba, P. Bonnici, M. Zammit 3, E. Pisani.
San Giljan: D. Camilleri, K. Lanzon, K. D'Ugo, C. Bonello, G. Ghirxi, M. Zammit 3, I. Azzopardi, M. Pace, G. Farrugia 2, A. Borda, S. Borg 7; J. Spiteri, K. Grima Scott.
Refs: P. Balzan, R. Spiteri.