Camilleri shines for Malta
Malta 20Ireland 8(5-0, 3-2, 5-4, 7-2) Yesterday's opening match for Malta in the European B Championships was no real test for the team led from the bench by Croat Sergio Afric whose men were simply too good for an Irish team lacking the collective...
Malta 20
Ireland 8
(5-0, 3-2, 5-4, 7-2)
Yesterday's opening match for Malta in the European B Championships was no real test for the team led from the bench by Croat Sergio Afric whose men were simply too good for an Irish team lacking the collective tactical nous so essential in the game.
Moreover, in Steve Camilleri Malta had a potent all-round performer whose excellent orchestrating was matched by a splendid scoring tally of nine goals. Simply, a player who has no fear in the water. Camilleri has just completed a successful stint with Italian top division side RN Bogliasco.
As it turned out, a solid take off in the opening session laid basis for a cruising win despite the Maltese playing resources reaching strained proportions due to innumerable expulsions against them.
But, the forcefulness of the Maltese, with Matthew Zammit, who plays for RN Imperia in Italy, turning out for the locals and constituting a strong reference point in the centre, remained evident throughout.
Ireland seemed bemused and could not respond to Malta's first session onslaught. As the locals pressed their opponents with Camilleri deployed as a playmaker, Malta kept their noses comfortably infront to lead 8-2 by the half-way mark.
However, the exclusion toll showed adverse readings for Malta even if the Irish failed to profit from all but two of their 11 man-up sets.
With Afric having to be judicious about using his men sparingly, given that, some were on two personal exclusions (eventually Mark Meli and Paul Privitera were fouled out), the collective strength of the team remain unimpaired despite a downturn in their extra-man scoring rate.
In the last session, the home team kept pushing to earn a flurry as they netted seven times past the Irish.
Malta: J. Cachia, N. Lanzon 1, M. Zammit 2, P. Privitera 2, M. Meli, J. Soler 3, S. Camilleri 9, J. Brownrigg 1, J. Borg, J. Valletta, M. Pisani, M. Stellini 2, N. Gouder.
Ireland: D. Neeson, A. Fogarty, D. Donnelly, K. Wilkes, B. Nolan, G. Fogarty 1, S. McMahon 3, J. Donnelly, E. Nolan, M. Kelleher, E. Tampsfield 2, G. Turley 2, E. Doyle.
Other result: Georgia vs Finland 15-4 (1-0, 4-1, 6-2, 4-1).