Wins for Neptunes, San Ġiljan and Sliema

The first phase of this year's BOV Winter League came to an end yesterday as Neptunes Emirates, San Ġiljan and Sliema McDonald's registered wins over Exiles Jet Services, Marsascala and Sirens Ritter Sport respectively.

The competition will now go into recess to make way for the national team's preparations followed by their participation between the end of next month and the beginning of May in the European B Championship in Istanbul.

The League will resume late in May with first-placed Sliema playing fourth-placed Sirens and San Ġiljan, second in the standings, facing Neptunes in the play-offs to be followed by the winners and losers playing each other for the final placings.

Despite being without Nicky Lanzon, injured in the first session, Edward Cachia and Jordan Camilleri, both fouled out, for most of the game, Neptunes had a clear ascendancy when facing Exiles in the opening match.

After building a 9-2 lead by the halfway mark, later extended to 14-3 in the third quarter, the Reds, with a number of fringe players in the water could ease off before Exiles, for whom Karl Rizzo Naudi was also dismissed on three personal faults, fought back to win the last part of the game 3-2.

Matthew Pisani's naphand for the Balluta team came in useful as was Lanzon's poker and Sean Gravina's hat-trick, emulated by Timmy Sullivan for Exiles. Also of note was the presence in the Exiles' goal of Adrian Cachia, the former Reds custodian.

San Ġiljan were also in total control when coming up against Marsascala in the subsequent match. Their clear-cut victory over the southseasiders earned them the second spot in the table after the first phase came to an end.

It may well have been a solid first-session lead for the Saints but by the time ends were shifted the 6-1 advantage they built was not particularly extravagant even if Pierre Borg was gradually introducing some of his lighter units in the pool.

While Anthony Farrugia's team should be commended for putting up a fight, San Ġiljan's temporary easing off was again stepped up as Edward Aquilina ended as their chief scorer once more with four goals followed by Matthew Pace with a hat-trick. For Marsascala Miguel Manara also netted three goals.

Sliema's mundane start, as they shared four goals with Sirens in the first quarter of yesterday's last clash, was followed up by three goals in the second for a 5-2 lead midway through the proceedings.

That trend continued in the next session with the Blues easing off to a 9-2 advantage before the last part of the match got underway.

Sirens had started brightly as they drew first blood but slowly but surely the Blues were making the expected inroads with John Soler eventually netting a naphand of goals, tossing away a penalty and in the process gifting the last of his side's conversions to Paul Privitera who was facing his ex-team.

The St Paul's Bay side were back to their fighting spell in the last session which also ended a 2-2 scoreline. However, Sliema's win had never been in doubt.

Next fixtures: May 15 - 16.00 Sliema vs Sirens; 17.15 San Ġiljan vs Neptunes.

Summaries

Neptunes 16
Exiles 7
(4-1, 5-1, 5-2, 2-3)

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 4, T. Agius, M. Stellini, E. Cachia, B. Lanzon 1, J. Camilleri 1, K. Debattista, B. Buhagiar 2, S. Gravina 3, M. Ciappara, K. Micallef, M. Pisani 5.

Exiles: A. Cachia, J. Rizzo Naudi, K. Rizzo Naudi 1, J. Fenech, T. Sullivan 3, M. Calleja, J. Paris 2, M. Paris, A. Zarb Cousin, S. Cini, A. Arrigo, D. Borg, K. Lanzon 1.

Referees: P. Giordano, I. Sciriha.

San Ġiljan 13
Marsascala 6
(4-0, 2-1, 3-2, 4-3)

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro 1, M. Pace 3, K. Galea, C. Gialanze, M. Zammit 1, R. Scerri 2, A. Bianchi 2, E. Aquilina 4, A. Borda, P. Fava, K. Dowling, K. Schembri.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, J.C. Cutajar 1, M. Manara 3, D. Cassar, J. Bonnici, L. Grixti, R. Attard 1, J. Cremona, S. Micallef 1, E. Bonello, D. Abela.

Referees: M. Angilleri, M. Caruana.

Sliema 11
Sirens 6
(2-2, 3-0, 4-2, 2-2)

Sliema: R. Coleiro, M. Spiteri Staines, N. Lubrano 1, P. Privitera 1, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 5; D. Paolella, J. Brownrigg 1, C. Debono, J. Spiteri Staines, M. Rizzo 2, M. Cordina, A. Bianchi.

Sirens: E. Arrigo, A. Attard, P. Micallef, P. Borg, A. Sammut, R. Mock 1, J. Borg 2, D. Cutajar 2, O. Zammit, C. Zammit, C. Mercieca, D. Zammit 1, J. Cremona.

Referees: M. Dalli, S. Licari.