Neptunes sink Sirens

Sirens 5
Neptunes 9
(1-2, 0-2, 3-1, 1-4)

Champions Neptunes Vodafone gave an inkling of their potential now that they have in their ranks the high-profile Serbian Vladimir Vujasinovic when they disposed of Sirens Hard Rock Cafe in easy fashion to join Sliema McDonalds at the top of the standings.

This was an efficient, rather than spectacular, performance from the Reds whose new recruit gave the team a steady look, particularly at the back. His colleagues responded well to the promptings of the foreign player, even if it had to be two thumpings on the accelerator to finally knock the stuffing out of Sirens.

The St Paul's Bay team were simply miserable on their extra-man sets even allowing for an unyielding opposing phalanx. Their reaction in the third quarter fizzled out as the Balluta Bay team raised their game by another notch to put the issue beyond doubt well before the final whistle.

It was a cautious start from both teams before Sirens drew first blood through Paul Privitera. Niki Lanzon converted a man-up to level matters with a thunderbolt from Vujasinovic giving the Reds a 2-1 lead.

It remained largely balanced for a while with neither team making any headway on man-ups or when within shooting range until Karl Galea resolved a numerical advantage to put Neptunes 3-1 in front.

Sirens wasted more man-ups allowing Vujasinovic to lob cutely for a 4-1 advantage.

Steve Camilleri pushed in for goal number five at the start of the third session and at this point Sirens made a partial comeback with two goals from Tamas Marcz and another from Privitera to bring the third session to a close with Neptunes just one goal ahead.

With the fourth session beckoning it looked very close now as both teams kept opting for caution and sound cover when not in possession. Breaks were few and far in between.

Suddenly, Neptunes, especially through Camilleri, rediscovered their scoring touch. The young lad made it 6-4 with David Camilleri making it 7-4 on a man-up.

Privitera had been fouled out by now, with Neptunes having three players hanging on two fouls.

Juergen Borg converted Sirens' only man-up set after seven times of asking, but with Neptunes easing away on a three-goal lead, they felt their advantage was secure before Steve Camilleri made it a poker with his team's ninth goal.

It was a convincing win for the champions.

Sirens: A. Grech, P. Fava, T. Marcz 2, P. Privitera 2, J. Rizzo Naudi, R. Xerri, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar, K. Montfort, C. Zammit, C. Mercieca, R. Attard, E. Arrigo.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 1, G. Sammut, K. Galea 1, J. Brownrigg, V. Vujasinovic 2, S. Camilleri 4, L. Attard, D. Camilleri 1, S. Gravina, R. Sciortino, M. Stellini, M. Pisani.

Refs: M. Dalli, A. Pascucci.

Division Two

Exiles 13
Otters 8
(5-0, 1-2, 5-2, 2-4)

An understrength Exiles Pender Gardens eased away to victory over Otters, a result which kept them on top of the standings.

Otters, introducing veteran Leonard Cachia, were submerged from the very start as Dirk Dowling's team build a 5-0 advantage inside the opening session thanks mainly to Aurelien Cousin's goals.

That pattern was momentarily halted in the second quarter which Otters won 2-1. However, Exiles resumed the cruising tempo in the third part of the game, extending their advantage to seven goals, only to slide back into anonymity in the final session. But, at least, they achieved what was expected of them.

Exiles: N. Imbroll, M. Zarb 1, D. Pace Lupi 1, T. Sullivan 3, G. Desira Buttigieg, J. Cremona, K. Griscti, A. Cousin 6, A. Arrigo, A. Borg Cole, M. Calleja 1, N. Micallef 1.

Otters: R. Grech, D. Saliba, G. Zammit 2, S. Grech 3, S. Cutajar, D. Saliba, F. Bajada, L. Cachia, C. Saliba, T. Simon 3, S. Xerri.

Refs: A. DeRaffaele, R. Spiteri.