Neptunes 12
Marsascala 2
(1-0, 2-1, 5-0, 4-1)

Despite playing with less than a handful of established players, Neptunes Vodafone were still good enough to comfortably blow away Marsascala in the opening match of yesterday's programme.

A naphand of goals in the third session and four in the last sufficed as the Reds, mainly courtesy of Nicky Lanzon (mostly employed as the last man) and Matthew Pisani, were firmly in control. John Paris kept playing musical chairs with the unit in his squad and with Marsascala being unable to pose any threat the Balluta team could well afford to keep introducing all the tailenders.

Leaving at least three of their top grid players in the water the Reds cruised to an expected win which helped them top the standings at the end of the preliminary stage.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 3, T. Agius 1, K. Galea 1, E. Cachia, B. Giorgio, J. Camilleri 1, Z. Mizzi, R. Attard, K. Micallef, R. Sciortino, M. Stellini 2, M. Pisani 4, G. Pace.

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

Refs: I. Sciriha, A. De Raffaele.

Sliema 11
Exiles 4
(1-1, 2-0, 3-3, 5-0)

Sliema McDonald's took an unexpectedly long time before pulling away to clinch victory against Exiles and thus make sure of the second spot in the table before the final phase gets under way.

In fact Exiles, turned out to be obdurate opponents at least until the end of the third session which saw them closing the gap to 6-4 after trailing 6-1.

But the Blues regained their composure in the last session during which Mark Meli completed his scoring spree for his team's comfortable victory.

Exiles could not maintain their earlier resistance and ultimately paid the price for their brave efforts.

As a result, they missed out on a spot in the top four as Sirens and San Giljan managed to book the last two berths.

Sliema: J. Cachia, M. Spiteri Staines, J. Spiteri Staines, M. Rizzo, M. Meli 5, J. Soler 3, D. Paolella, J. Brownrigg 1, C. Debono 2, J. Valletta, N. Lubrano, M. Manara, D. Abela.

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

Refs: M. Dalli, S. Licari.

Sirens 11
ASA U-20 3
(3-1, 2-0, 4-2, 2-0)

Sirens Centro Casalinga ended their commitments in the first stage of the competition when they overcame the challenge of the ASA U-20 team after their 11-3 victory in the final duel of the day and the preliminary round.

The team from St Paul's Bay made their intentions clear from the start, building a 5-1 lead by the halfway stage. Paul Privitera (five goals) and Clint Mercieca, with a hat-trick, led the way scorewise as the Northerners, with most of their top men in the water, never allowed the selection team to pose any danger.

The ASA youngsters, however, have showed considerable improvement since the start of this campaign.

Sirens: J. Sammut, S. Aquilina, P. Privitera 5, T. Debono, A. Sammut, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar, A. Zammit, C. Zammit 2, C. Mercieca 3, D. Zammit.

ASA U-20: A. Borg Cole, J. Spiteri Staines, T. Agius, P. Borg 1, A. Zarb Cousin, R. Mock 1, J. Camilleri 1, K. Grixti, N. Lubrano, S. Cini, S. Vassallo, M. Spiteri Staines, M. Pace.

Refs: P. Balzan, M. Caruana.

Nest Fixtures

Saturday: 3 p.m. Sliema vs Sirens; 4.15 p.m. Neptunes vs San Giljan; 5.30 p.m. Exiles vs ASA U-20.