Sottani inspires resilient Reds to victory

Otters 10
Marsascala 14
(3-3, 2-4, 0-4, 5-3)

A resilient Neptunes Vodafone, spearheaded by an impeccable Leonardo Sottani were a shade too good for champions Sliema McDonald's, sealing a hard-earned victory against the Blues to send their supporters home believing that the team has all the credentials to return to winning ways in terms of league honours this season.

It was a victory that stemmed from Paolo Malara's well-thought out tactics of stifling Sliema's chief goal-getters and with the Blues placing most of their attentions on Steve Camilleri, thus allowing more space for Sottani to do the damage.

The absence of Raymond Fodor for Sliema and the re-inclusion of Aljosa Kunac for the Reds may have also had some effect on the outcome.

In the first session, Neptunes took a 3-2 lead having looked slightly more accurate especially on man-ups. The second session brewed with excitement as the Blues equalised only to go two goals behind. It remained tight though, with Sliema managing to hit back to level on 5-5.

Expulsions against both sides made it incumbent for the teams to cash in on their numerical advantage.

Neptunes made it 7-5 before ends were changed but Sliema fought back to level on 8-8 after being two goals down. The third session ended with Neptunes 10-9 in the lead.

Sliema missed a penalty through John Soler with the sprightly Nicky Gouder reading the intentions of the Blues player. That, arguably, proved to be the turning point as Neptunes soon extended their lead to 11-9.

Their sound defence appeared to be capable of repelling Sliema's attacks now as they comfortably administered a 12-10 lead when Niki Lanzon scored a vital last goal for the Balluta Bay team. Sliema's 11th goal was scant consolation.

Earlier, Exiles, led by 11-goal Aurelien Cousin, were too strong for Marsaxlokk and their resounding 18-4 victory reflected the edge they had over their opponents. Faster swimming and more potent shooting were Exiles's main weapons where apart from Cousin, Julian Rizzo Naudi also stood out with four goals.

The base had been procurred by the end of the second quarter when Exiles led 8-1. The monologue continued in the latter sessions with victory being sealed in a convincing manner.

Gozitan team Otters Nivea made their debut in the preliminary round and although offering some fight in the first two sessions they were made to bow to a fitter Marsascala team who had Hungarians Szabo Botond and Gabor Suti scoring four goals each.

Ryan Cutajar also scored a hat-trick for the winners.

The first two sessions proved so taxing for Otters that their opponents were allowed to free-wheel to a 14-10 victory despite a generous last-session comeback by the Gozitans.

Next fixtures: (Friday) 6 p.m. Marsascala vs Exiles; 7.15 p.m. San Giljan vs Sliema.

Otters 10
Marsascala 14
(3-3, 2-4, 0-4, 5-3)

Otters: R. Grech, D. Saliba, G. Zammit 1, S. Grech 1, A. Arrigo 2, P. Szabo 2, C. Martin, K. Paco 2, T. Debono 1, L. Cachia, K. Scicluna 1, M. Tabone, S. Scerri.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, P. Borg 1, J.C. Cutajar, M. Borg, G. Ghirxi, L. Grixti, J. Licari 2, J. Cremona, S. Micallef, R. Cutajar 3, S. Botond 4, G. Suti 4, D. Cassar.

Referees: P. Balzan, M. Caruana.

Marsaxlokk 4
Exiles 18
(1-3, 0-5, 2-5, 1-5)

Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, G. Attard, R. Calleja, A. Farrugia, A. Razzi 3, C. Bugeja, M. Bartolocci 1, E. Bonello, M. Buttigieg, K. Grima Scott, R. Attard, E. Arrigo.

Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi 4, K. Rizzo Naudi, D. Pace Lupi 2, T. Sullivan, S. Cini, R. Chomakhidze, K. Grixti 1, A. Zarb Cousin, A. Cousin 11, S. Vassallo, M. Calleja.

Referees: M. Angilleri, S. Licari.

Sliema 11
Neptunes 13
(2-3, 3-4, 4-3, 2-3)

Sliema: J. Cachia, J. Gabaretta 1, N. Lubrano 1, B. Rath 2, M. Meli, J. Soler 3, D. Paolella, J. Brownrigg 1, C. Debono, J. Valletta, M. Rizzo, O. Frikk 3, R. Coleiro.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 1, T. Agius, K. Galea 1, E. Cachia, R. Sciortino, S. Camilleri 2, J. Camilleri, A. Kunac 2, S. Gravina, L. Sottani 5, M. Stellini 1, M. Pisani 1.

Referees: M. Dalli, D. Saeli.