Splendid Reds reduce Sirens to tatters

Neptunes 14
Sirens 3
(3-1, 3-0, 4-1, 4-1)

Neptunes Vodafone produced a scintillating display worthy of champions as they reduced Sirens Hard Rock Cafe to tatters when inflicting a 14-3 defeat on the St Paul's Bay team, a result which put paid to their slim hopes of winning the title.

This was a vintage showing from Neptunes which oozed confidence, with collective play being at the heart of almost every attempt at their opponents' goal. Every department looked reassuring with Vladimir Vujasinovic orchestrating his colleagues with immaculate calmness, complemented by sudden surges and thundering shots at goal.

The rearguard gave nothing away, even allowing for Sirens' slipshod form when they were in possession and on man-up sets. Neptunes' potential was there for all to admire.

Indeed it was a third defeat for Sirens against the Reds, with yesterday's mishap never crossing their mind as to its proportions. However, they have the qualities to come back and win some of their spurs. Only their pride is at stake now.

Steve Camilleri put his team ahead as Neptunes started in more menacing fashion. Michele Stellini doubled the lead with David Camilleri making it 3-0 after an excellent choral move.

Sirens made their only headway on a man-up, with Tamas Marcz reducing the deficit. Neptunes' flexible cover at the back was making it difficult for the St Paul's Bay team to steady themselves for a shot at goal.

Vujasinovic netted powerfully and Matthew Pisani made it 6-1 with two goals. Neptunes had an undoubted ascendancy as Sirens looked static and unable to profit on three consecutive numerical advantages.

Ends were changed with the Reds looking a solid bet to keep up their good work, even if David Camilleri was hanging on two exclusions. In the third session, Steve Camilleri won a penalty which Vujasinovic converted, 7-1, before a bounce shot from Stellini surprised Alan Grech.

Nothing was going right for Pierre Borg's team. John Brownrigg increased the advantage to 9-1 before Marcz pulled a goal back. Brownrigg won a penalty from which Steve Camilleri made no mistake. A 10-2 scoreline in the Reds' favour with the last session to go, was a reassuring cushion for Neptunes. Marcz was also hanging on two personal faults.

David Cutajar reduced the gap to 10-3 early in the last session but another perfect service from Vujasinovic to Pisani enabled the latter to lob cutely and reach his hat-trick (11-3).

So did the trailing Steve Camilleri for a 12-3 scoreline. Stellini emulated his team-mates for his hat-trick as Sergio Afric made wholesale changes in those last minutes when bringing in all the tailenders.

Luke Attard profited to seal his team's remarkable victory.

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

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

Refs: S. Pinato, M. Dalli.

Division Two

Marsascala 21
Otters 12
(5-4, 5-2, 5-0, 6-6)

Marsascala 7-Up went top of the Division Two table after collecting the points at the expense of Otters in a match which saw the return of John Licari in the southseasiders' ranks after a long-term suspension.

Not unusually, the Sicilian Fabio Valenti took on the main scoring responsibilities for Marsascala, netting no fewer than 11 goals, a record. But, it was also their speed which eventually wore down the Gozitans.

A high-scoring first session ended with Marsascala leading 5-4, an advantage which was extended to 10-6 by the half-way stage.

It was easy going after that, with Mario Zammit, the Marsascala coach, utilising all his manjack as his team wrapped up the result on a 21-12 scoreline.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, J.C. Cutajar, S. Farrugia, A. Galea, M. Borg Spiteri 3, L. Grixti 1, J. Licari 2, M. Spiteri, S. Micallef 1, R. Cutajar 1, D. Cassar 1, F. Valenti 11, D. Ciappara 1.

Otters: R. Grech, D. Saliba, G. Zammit 2, S. Grech 4, S. Cutajar 1, D. Saliba, P. Saliba, K. Mizzi, L. Cachia, C. Saliba 2, T. Simon 3, G. Xuereb, E. Farrugia.

Refs: M. Caruana, R. Spiteri.

Fixtures

Friday:
Division Two
6 p.m. Exiles vs Marsascala.

Division One
7.15 p.m. Sirens vs Sliema.

Saturday:
U-19
4.30 p.m. Sliema vs Sirens.

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

Division One
7 p.m. San Giljan vs Neptunes.