Reds' late rally sinks Sirens

Neptunes 9
(0-3, 3-2, 3-1, 3-1)
Sirens 7

In yesterday's top-of-the-table clash Neptunes Vodafone gained sole leadership after turning the game on its head at the death against champions 2X Sirens, who have thus suffered their second defeat at the hands of the Balluta Bay Reds.

It must be said that the St Paul's Bay team had a severe handicap in that they were unable to make use of their injured Hungarian player Tamas Marcz, even though he was on the team list.

However, Sirens had high hopes of pinning down their opponents as they led almost throughout, on two occasions opening a three-goal advantage. Neptunes, who had an error-strewn first two sessions, started making inroads, and although they were also guilty of more errors, they ended on a fresher note against fading opponents.

Sirens had a flying start which they completely dominated and were full worth their 3-0 first-session advantage with goals coming from Jonathan Valletta and two from Paul Privitera.

With Neptunes fumbling their passes and unable to serve the man in the hole, Sirens looked totally on top but Niki Lanzon converted Neptunes' first man-up to reduce the arrears before Dubravko Simenc pulled back another goal with a typically ferocious shot.

A misplaced pass from him to an unmarked colleague in front of the Sirens' goal proved very costly as Sirens scored twice in succession through Neal Cassar and Clint Mercieca to open a 5-2 lead. A snap shot on a free-throw by Steve Camilleri gave Neptunes some hope before the change of ends.

Goals at either end from David Camilleri and Privitera, who had to receive assistance after getting a knock (he had to leave the water for two minutes), made it 6-4 for Sirens, with Steve Camilleri and Lanzon scoring before the end of the third session.

The match was finely poised and Neptunes' superior swimming started looking ominous for John Farrugia's team. But a ghastly error by the Reds when they had a man-up allowed Mercieca to rob them of the ball and score from three quarters of the pitch.

The in-form Lanzon soon restored parity and Simenc again powered in a shot to give Neptunes the lead for the first time (8-7) with two minutes and 18 seconds to go.

At this point, Sirens who had also lost a number of man-up sets looked a spent force and Neptunes were able to increase their lead to 9-7 after a fine break, this time Karl Galea being the scorer.

Sergio Afric's team were then able to coast home.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 3, T. Agius, D. Simenc 2, E. Cachia, J. Brownrigg, S. Camilleri 2, L. Attard, D. Camilleri 1, K. Galea 1, A. Sammut, M. Stellini, M. Pisani.

Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, E. Bonello, N. Cassar 1, P. Privitera 2, C. Zammit, J. Valletta 2, J. Borg, D. Cutajar, K. Montfort, T. Marcz, C. Mercieca 2, R. Attard, A. Grech.

Refs: I. Sciriha, A. Rovida.

Marsascala 10
(1-1, 2-2, 5-2, 2-2)
Ta' Xbiex 7

Marsascala Breakers had to wait till the third session to steady their ship and sail safely into port to leave Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise stranded.

Again, it had to be the influence of their up and coming scorer Mark Borg Spiteri to help the team to victory after both sides had shared six goals in the first two sessions.

Ta' Xbiex had looked full of fight till then and indeed had twice taken the lead, their chief marksman, scorer of four goals, being Tom van Oost.

But the southerners improved their game considerably till the third quarter and that was decisive in the final reckoning after they had won that session 5-2.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, J.C. Cutajar, S. Farrugia, A. Galea 1, M. Borg Spiteri 4, S. Popovski 2, P. Fava 1, L. Grixti, S. Micallef, M. Fava, R. Cutajar 1, M. Spiteri 1, D. Ciappara.

Ta' Xbiex: A. Tanti, G. Attard, K. Rizzo Naudi, K. Sciortino, C. D'Ugo, J. Rizzo Naudi, C. Saliba, D. Schembri, T. Boyd, T. van Oost 4, C. Sciortino, P. Paolella 1, D. Pisani 2.

Refs: M. Caruana, R. Spiteri.

Today - 6 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Otters; 7.15 p.m. Sliema vs San Giljan.