Sirens, Sliema register victories

In yesterday's first match at Tal-Qroqq, a sharper Sirens outfit were too strong for Neptunes Vodafone and ran out deserved winners.

The St Paul's Bay team, under the charge of Pierre Borg, zoned effectively around the seven-metre limit and when the otherwise erratic Neptunes managed a pot at goal, the Balluta Bay team found Allan Grech, a replacement for Joe Caruana Dingli, in excellent shape.

Sirens, including new signing Paul Fava, opened a 3-0 lead only for Neptunes to bounce back momentarily and nose in front on 4-3.

But the northerners' sharpness helped them regain control against the faltering Reds who squandered several man-up sets.

In the other match, Sliema McDonalds eased their way to a comfortable victory over San Giljan Zara to start off their Winter League trek on a positive note.

Guided by Peter Decesare, in the absence of Igor Gocanin, an ex-Sliema player who is expected to take over as coach later on in the year, the Blues pulled emphatically away in the third session when they netted five goals without reply.

Leading 9-3, Sliema, who paraded new recruit Jonathan Valletta but were without the unavailable Francesco Cutajar, netted once in the last session to make it a 10-3 final score.

San Giljan, led from the bench by Italian Claudio Silvestri, of Neptunes' fame, were without Ian Azzopardi. The Saints were out of it in the last session after they had limited the deficit to 4-3 by the half-way mark.

Yesterday's games were the first competitive matches of the 2007 Winter League competition.

Neptunes 6
(2-3, 2-2, 1-3, 1-1)
Sirens 9

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon (3), J. Camilleri, K. Galea (1), T. Agius, J. Brownrigg, S. Camilleri, G. Sammut, D. Camilleri, S. Gravina, R. Sciortino, M. Stellini (2), M. Pisani.

Sirens: A. Grech, P. Fava, K. Rizzo Naudi, P. Privitera (2), J. Rizzo Naudi, E. Bonello, J. Borg (2), D. Cutajar, K. Montfort (1), C. Zammit (2), C. Mercieca (2), R. Attard, J. Sammut.

Refs: P. Balzan, A. DeRaffaele.

San Giljan 3
(2-4, 1-0, 0-5, 0-1)
Sliema 10

San Giljan: K. Schembri, C. Spiteri de Barro, A. Galea, C. Bonello, M. Pace, M. Zammit (1), G. Toth, J. Bonnici, M. Miggiani, D. Camilleri, S. Borg, J. Xerri de Caro, K. Lanzon (2).

Sliema: J. Cachia, C. Gialanze, E. Aquilina, M. Rizzo (1), M. Meli (1), J. Soler (4), D. Paolella (1), J. Gabaretta, C. Debono (2), J. Valletta (1), N. Lubrano, M. Calleja, A. Bianchi, J. Spiteri Staines, R. Coleiro.

Refs: M. Caruana, M. Dalli.

Saturday: 4.30 p.m. San Giljan vs Neptunes; 5.45 p.m. Sirens vs Sliema.

Sunday: 11.30 a.m. San Giljan vs Malta U-18.