Neptunes beat rivals Sliema to claim points in big clash

The first match of the 2009 Winter League was the traditionally hot clash between Sliema McDonald's and Neptunes Vodafone, respectively national league and winter league champions.

Although both teams included some young faces in their lists, they relied mostly on established names to produce effective moves and most of the goals.

It was a close contest all the way even if goals on open play were hard to come by as the team not in possession of the ball opted for central zone cover.

After Neptunes had neutralised a 2-0 early deficit, it was tit-for-tat until soon after the start of the last session when the Balluta Bay Reds took an 8-5 lead which was then extended to 10-6 with about four minutes to go.

Neptunes, finishing on a sharper note, managed to conserve the advantage thus claiming the points from this 'big' encounter. For the record, Neptunes were mentored from the bench by John Paris with Sergio Afric leading the Blues.

In the second match, played at a slower tempo, Sirens Centro Casalinga were made to put in more effort than expected to shrug off a fighting Marsascala team. In the end, the northerners had to thank veteran Charlie Zammit for providing four of the goals which helped his team to victory.

After an early lead by Marsascala, Sirens forged in front on 3-1, only to be caught up midway through the second quarter. Zammit kept playing the tune as Sirens stretched their lead to three goals on three occasions in the final sessions.

The southerners, though, made the defeat look more respectable with a final brace scored by Glenn Ghirxi and Peter Borg.

In the last match on yesterday's card, San Ġiljan proved to be more resilient than Exiles despite having only nine men from a possible 13 in their squad.

In fact, the Saints were also slightly more effective in their shooting, with Paul Fava and new signing from Marsascala, Mark Borg Spiteri, showing their potting qualities as did Karl Rizzo Naudi and David Pace Lupi for Exiles.

Towards the end, Exiles trimmed their 6-3 deficit to 6-5 before Borg Spiteri reached his hat-trick and Kayne Lanzon sealed victory for Silvio Borg's team.

Next fixtures (Saturday)

3 p.m. Sirens vs Sliema McDonald's; 4.15 p.m. San Ġiljan vs Neptunes Vodafone; 5.30 p.m. Malta Under 20 vs Marsascala.

Sliema 8
Neptunes 10
(2-2, 1-2, 2-2, 3-4)

Sliema: J. Cachia, M. Spiteri Staines, M. Rizzo 1, J. Spiteri Staines, D. Abela, J. Soler 1, D. Paolella 1, M. Manara, C. Debono, J. Valletta 3, N. Lubrano 2, R. Coleiro.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 2, T. Agius, K. Galea 2, E. Cachia, D. Caruana, J. Camilleri, Z. Mizzi, R. Attard, S. Gravina, R. Sciortino, M. Stellini 3, M. Pisani 3.

Refs: I. Sciriha, M. Angilleri.

Sirens 8
Marsascala 7
(3-1, 2-2, 1-1, 2-3)

Sirens: A. Grech, L. Caruana, T. Galea 1, A. Sammut, R. Mock, R. Scerri 1, D. Cutajar, T. Debono, C. Zammit 4, C. Mercieca 2, D. Zammit, J. Sammut.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, P. Borg 2, M. Borg, K. Sciortino, G. Ghirxi 1, L. Grixti, J. Licari 1, S. Micallef, R. Ciantar 1, D. Cassar, M. Spiteri, J.C. Cutajar 2.

Refs: A. DeRaffaele, R. Spiteri.

San Ġiljan 8
Exiles 5
(1-1, 2-0, 2-2, 3-2)

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro, C. Gialanze, C. Bugeja, M. Borg Spiteri 3, A. Bianchi 1, P. Fava 2, K. Schembri 2, K. Lanzon.

Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi, K. Rizzo Naudi 3, D. Pace Lupi 2, S. Cini, A. Arrigo, K. Grixti, A. Zarb Cousin, K. Enriquez, S. Vassallo, A. Cachia, M. Calleja.

Refs: P. Balzan, M. Caruana.