Reds again thrash Saints as duel ends on fiery note

San Ġiljan 8
Neptunes18
(1-4, 3-2, 2-6, 2-6)

Beyond the result, which was another swamping victory for Neptunes Vodafone over neighbours San Ġiljan Tropicana Juices, unfortunately the limelight was on a fiery ending to the game which resulted in two players, one from each side, being excluded for four minutes without substitution.

It is indeed a shame that sports degenerates to such low depths for whatever reason like it did yesterday, more so when the issue had already been firmly settled with the Reds leading 16-6 with less than three minutes left. Yugoslav Vasevic's and Edward Cachia's violent misconduct had earned them that severe sanction, after which it was Steve Camilleri's turn to be sent off, this time with substitution.

The Balluta team had started like wildfire going into a 4-0 lead inside the first five minutes but then San Ġiljan crept back to a one-goal deficit by the start of the third quarter. The Reds recharged their batteries, with their superiority on shots efficiency, extra-man success rate and faster breaks on retaining possession and turnovers, helping them to open a comfortable six-goal gap by the end of the third session.

Matthew Zammit followed Paul Fava on three expulsions, after which Neptunes' dominance became more pronounced as they won the last two quarters by the identical score of 6-2.

Their chief scorer was Aljosa Kunac with five goals followed by Steve Camilleri on four with Karl Galea hitting a hat-trick, as did the Italian Federico Pagani for the Saints.

But the grim finale was a blemish on the game - a replica of the clash between the same teams in the preliminary round.

It now looks like it will be a two-horse race for the title.

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro 1, C. Gialanze, F. Pagani 3, M. Borg Spiteri 1, M. Zammit, P. Fava, A. Bianchi, M. Pace, S. Schembri, Y. Vasovic 2, J. Xerri de Caro, K. Lanzon 1.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 1, T. Agius, K. Galea 3, E. Cachia, R. Sciortino, S. Camilleri 4, J. Camilleri, A. Kunac 5, S. Gravina, L. Sottani 2, M. Stellini 2, M. Pisani 1.

Refs: M. Dalli, G. Lo Dico.

Marsaxlokk 12
Otters 10
(2-4, 4-3, 2-2, 4-1)

In a balanced high-scoring game, Marsaxlokk lasted the pace better to beat Otters 12-10 with Italian Andrea Razzi netting five goals for the southseasiders.

The Gozitan team, not untypically, started the game better and always dominated proceedings, twice by three goals, as their Hungarian player Carol Bako netted four times.

However, they went in arrears late in the game and finally gave up the ghost.

Marsaxlokk: E. Arrigo, R. Calleja, A. Farrugia 3, A. Razzi 5, C. Bugeja 2, M. Bartolucci 1, E. Bonello 1, M. Buttigieg, K. Grima Scott, R. Attard, M. Zammit, A. Xuereb.

Otters: R. Grech, D. Saliba, G. Zammit 1, S. Grech 2, C. Caruana 1, P. Szabo 1, C. Saliba, C. Vaco 4, C. Martin, L. Cachia, A. Arrigo 1, M. Tabone,E. Farrugia.

Refs: P. Giordano, M. Angilleri.