Neptunes pull away for 11-6 victory

Neptunes 11
San Giljan 6
(3-2, 3-2, 2-0, 3-2)

Though not setting any bushes alight, Neptunes Vodafone were good enough to wear down the resistance of San Giljan Zara and earn a comfortable victory against a team which had lowered Sliema's colours a week earlier.

The Reds' edge in extra-man sets and a wider array of potential scorers, five in all yesterday, accounted for their victory which mainly started maturing from the third session onwards.

San Giljan's earlier efforts had been commendable as they fought gallantly to stay in the game, but in the end they had to succumb to superior opponents.

Neptunes were forced to reshuffle their formation as they had to renounce to the services of their useful centre Karl Galea who sustained a hand injury which is understood will force him out of his team's equation for the rest of the season.

The other unavailable player was Giorgio Sammut, with both replacements being Jordan Camilleri and John Brownrigg (scorer of a hat-trick yesterday), changes which rendered Neptunes' bench short of their usual weight and experience.

Neptunes were a goal up within 15 seconds through Brownrigg but Kayne Lanzon made it 1-1, with Marco Cuk and Steve Camilleri netting in succession as exchanges remained brisk and balanced. Shortly before the end of the first session, Camilleri scored the second of his four goals to make it 3-2.

Despite the Reds' drive, San Giljan managed to hold out until Vladimir Vujasinovic broke on the left to open a two-goal lead, an advantage which was extended to 5-2 when Brownrigg converted on a man-up.

Cuk scored two goals in succession to whittle down the deficit to 5-4, only for Matthew Pisani to convert another man-up for a 6-4 lead before Matthew Zammit incredibly missed after eluding the clutches of his shadower in the centre.

Pisani re-opened a three-goal gap for Neptunes when he exploited another man-over set and it was here that the Reds finally started showing their ascendancy.

Niki Lanzon combined with the flying Camilleri for the latter to make it 8-4.

In the last session, the Saints were forced to scrape their reserves of knowhow to save the game. They started well when Zammit converted after Brownrigg was excluded. When Cuk was sent off, Brownrigg did likewise to reach his hat-trick and give Neptunes a 9-5 lead.

San Giljan missed a man-up after which Michele Stellini won a penalty which Camilleri converted. Stellini then inserted his name among the scorers for an 11-5 scoreline which was cut back when Claudio Spiteri DeBarro hit his team's sixth goal.

But, Neptunes had long assured themselves of victory which gives them sole leadership on 18 points.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon, J. Camilleri, M. Stellini 1, J. Brownrigg 3, V. Vujasinovic 1, S. Camilleri 4, L. Attard, D. Camilleri, S. Gravina, R. Sciortino, T. Agius, M. Pisani 2.

San Giljan: K. Schembri, C. Spiteri de Barro 1, A. Galea, C. Bonello, E. Cachia, M. Zammit 1, M. Cuk 3, D. Camilleri, M. Pace, S. Borg, J. Xerri de Caro, K. Lanzon 1.

Refs: A. Severo, M. Dalli.

Division Two

Marsascala 9
Marsaxlokk 6
(2-1, 1-1, 4-3, 2-1)

Marsascala 7-Up were forced to pull all the strings to shrug off the challenge of the other team from the south, Marsaxlokk Freeport, before they settled for a 9-6 victory.

The match was generally balanced, but with Sergei Frolov kept under control, the other foreigner, Fabio Valenti for Marsascala, made for the gap there was between the two sides.

The Italian was always a threat when within shooting range and especially on a free-throw in his favour. Evidence of this was the four goals he scored.

Marsaxlokk tried hard to stay in contention and were only a goal adrift for most of the first two sessions and the beginning of the third. But, their opponents finally pulled away for victory on a three-goal margin, enough for them to maintain the pace at the top of the standings.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, J.C. Cutajar, S. Farrugia, A. Galea, M. Borg Spiteri 1, L. Griscti, F. Valenti 4, K. Enriquez, S. Micallef 1, R. Cutajar 1, D. Cassar 2, M. Spiteri, D. Ciappara.

Marsaxlokk: R. Bonnici, G. Attard 1, R. Calleja, A. Farrugia, K. Farrugia, C. Bugeja, E. Pisani, D. Schembri 2, S. Frolov 1, K. Grima Scott 1, G. Ghirxi 1, N. Agius, A. Sammut.

Refs: I. Sciriha, M. Caruana.

Fixtures

Friday
U-19
5 p.m. Neptunes vs Sliema.

Division Two
6.15 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Otters.

Division One
7.30 p.m. Sirens vs San Giljan.

Saturday
U-19
4.30 p.m. Sirens vs Marsascala.

Division Two
5.45 p.m. Exiles vs Ta' Xbiex.

Division One
7 p.m. Neptunes vs Sliema.