Sirens 8
Neptunes 10
(2-4, 3-2, 2-2, 1-2)

Neptunes Vodafone's hopes of making a successful year as far as league honours are concerned were kept very much alive after they dismissed 2X Sirens. It was another hard-fought match which again provided evidence of the balance that prevails among top teams in local waterpolo - never mind that this was the third time that the Reds lowered Sirens' colours this summer.

Their success yesterday was deserved as they played a sound rearguard game which had flexibility as its trademark. Very often Neptunes snubbed the efforts of the Saints with intelligent cover. The Reds, on their part, started showing an edge from the third session onwards after pulling through on a deserved 4-2 lead in the opening quarter.

Sergio Afric's instructions were followed almost to perfection as Sirens were restricted into shooting from a distance.

That and the northerners' unyielding close marking proved costly as Neptunes profited from man up sets when it mattered most, even if it was three on eight. Sirens had meagre statistics when squandering their last four on five similar sets.

Karl Montfort shot Sirens ahead early on but that was the only time his team had their noses in front. Goals from Dubravco Simenc and Steve Camilleri put the Reds ahead before Juergen Borg equalised.

But two goals from Michele Stellini, who had another good match, and Simenc gave Neptunes a 4-2 lead, the latter converting a penalty after Steve Camilleri had won the infringement in his favour.

Paul Privitera reduced the arrears early in the second session with Tamas Marcz putting Sirens level. The Saints' more stringent press was costing them a bigger number of exclusions but Neptunes failed to profit on their first three sets.

Steve Camilleri at last converted Neptunes' fourth man-up and Simenc did likewise from a similar set (6-4). Montfort's lob reduced the deficit before sides were changed.

The contest was intriguing with Sirens having Montfort and Jonathan Valletta hanging on two personal faults. The Reds were perkier at this point even if Simenc was rested for the third session. Clint Mercieca broke to equalise from an angled position but Stellini did likewise at the other end. The same player extended the lead with a distant shot which surprised Joe Caruana Dingli.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Valletta had been fouled out and Sirens were made to dig deeper into their reserves of grit. Mercieca, unmarked reduced the gap to 8-7 before the third session ended. But Neptunes seemed unperturbed and a three on two break, shortly after the last restart, was resolved by Lanzon.

With Simenc back in the water, Neptunes were showing the better ideas. They now went for tighter press and suffered three exclusions in a row which Sirens did not profit from.

Sirens paid the penalty for this wastefulness as Steve Camilleri opened a three-goal gap for his team, with three minutes 30 seconds left.

Seventy five seconds from the end Marcz pulled a goal back but with Neptunes opting for to play out time Sirens realised it was too late.

The title they won last year had to be relinquished now.

Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, T. Debono, N. Cassar, P. Privitera 1, C. Zammit, J. Valletta, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar, K. Montfort 2, T. Marcz 2, C. Mercieca 2.

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

Refs: M. Angileri, M. Di Chiara.

Division Two

Marsascala win southern derby

Marsaxlokk 7
Marsascala 11
(3-2, 0-3, 2-4, 2-2)

Marsascala Breakers won the derby of the south when they beat Marsaxlokk Freeport 11-7 in a match which had them breathing freely from the second session onwards.

Faster swimming and superior scoring versatility among their manjack were instrumental in yesterday's victory which also keeps Marsascala in contention for the title.

Marsaxlokk took a 3-2 lead in the opening session, with all three goals coming from Charles Bugeja. Stefan Licari's team overturned the scoreline in the next session to shift ends 5-3 in front.

Sergei Frolov put his name on the scorers' list but Paul Fava reached his hat-trick to re-open a two-goal lead for Marsascala. More goals for Marsascala and another by Frolov made it 9-5 prior to the last session.

Two goals at each end kept the teams four goals apart at the end of the sporting hostilities.

Both matches were preceded by a minute's silence in memory of David's (Sirens) and Simon Cutajar's (Marsa-xlokk) father and the mother of referee Anthony Farrugia who passed away.

Marsaxlokk: R. Bonnici, S. Cachia, R. Calleja, K. Grima Scott, N. Kerr, C. Bugeja 3, G. Lubrano, S. Cutajar, S. Frolov 4, F. Testa, D. Cassar, J. Vella, D. Debono.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, J.C. Cutajar, S. Farrugia, A. Galea 1, M. Borg Spiteri 1, S. Popovski 1, P. Fava 3, L. Grixti 1, S. Micallef 1, M. Fava 1, R. Cutajar 1, M. Spiteri, D. Ciappara 1.

Refs: M. Caruana, I. Sciriha.

Fixtures

Today
4.45 p.m.Ta' Xbiex vs Exiles
6.30 p.m. San Giljan vs Sliema.