Victories for big guns

Neptunes 13
Sirens 8
(3-0, 3-3, 5-1, 2-4)

Neptunes Vodafone shook off last week's opaque form when playing against San Giljan to charge their way to a convincing victory over Sirens Hard Rock Cafe yesterday.

The Reds, again playing without their ace marksman Steve Camilleri, proved too strong for the St Paul's Bay side. They played confidently throughout to have it all their own way, even netting some slick goals.

Niki Lanzon and Karl Galea were their chief executioners with four goals apiece, while Matthew Pisani, scorer of seven goals against San Giljan, had a quiet day.

However, the superior tactics and stronger rearguard of Karl Izzo's team ensured an easy victory against a fumbling Sirens side.

In fact, the northerners' coach Dejan Simeonev could only hope to whittle down the deficit which at the beginning of the last quarter grew to seven goals - 11-4. David Cutajar, three goals, and Clint Mercieca, four, could do little to stem the tide against their team.

In the other match, Sliema McDonald's emulated Neptunes to score their second successive victory when they had the better of Exiles who had Joe Caruana Dingli, the ex-Malta goalkeeper, at their technical helm, besides some new faces among whom Reuben Bonnici, on loan from Marsaxlokk, for this pre-season competition.

Although the underdogs fought bravely for the best part of the opening sessions, the Blues' better armoury in all departments ensured that the spoils would go their way.

Leading 8-5 at the half-way mark, Sliema kept driving home their undoubted edge, at the same time making use of all their available manjack.

Meanwhile, the lead was extended to a definitive 14-6 scoreline with Edward Aquilina and John Soler the Blues' leading marksmen.

On the positive side for Exiles was the fact that they refrained from going for negative ploys, save for the last session when they played out their possession period.

Results, line-ups

Neptunes 13
Sirens 8
(3-0, 3-3, 5-1, 2-4)

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 4, T. Agius, K. Galea 4, E. Cachia, K. Micallef, J. Camilleri, R. Attard, D. Camilleri, S. Gravina 1, J. Paris, M. Stellini 3, M. Pisani 1, D. Caruana, A. Cachia.

Sirens: A. Grech, T. Debono, T. Galea, P. Privitera 1, P. Borg, R. Mock, J. Borg, D. Cutajar 3, A. Attard, D. Scerri, C. Mercieca 4, R. Attard, J. Sammut, P. Micallef, E. Bonello.

Refs: A. DeRaffaele, M. Angilleri.

Exiles 6
Sliema 14
(2-4, 3-4, 1-3, 0-3)

Exiles: R. Bonnici, S. Vassallo, K. Rizzo Naudi 3, D. Pace Lupi 1, T. Sullivan, J. Rizzo Naudi 2, A. Zarb Cousin, K. Griscti, M. Galea, K. Enriquez, S. Cini, G. Galea, M. Calleja.

Sliema: R. Coleiro, C. Gialanze, E. Aquilina 4, J. Gabaretta 2, M. Meli, J. Soler 3, D. Paolella 1, C. Debono 2, J. Valletta 2, J. Spiteri Staines, N. Lubrano, J. Cachia.

Refs: M. Caruana, P. Balzan.