Adjusting to the demands of tenseness when playing in the opening match against potentially tricky opponents, it may not have been easy for Neptunes Emirates as they took on Exiles Jet Services in the new BOV National League campaign yesterday.
But the Reds overcame the possible hazards and eased to a comfortable victory marked by the scoring traits of Steve Camilleri, who netted six times, and their Hungarian tandem of Miklos Gornagy and Tomas Molnar, each scorer of a hat-trick.
It was plain sailing for the Reds, moreso as their opponents from across Balluta Bay were hardly able to exploit their many extra-man sets (two from nine) despite the presence of Frenchman Aurielen Cousin and Romanian Cosmin Bronca.
Neptunes, who converted their only man-up, may have lacked some zip in several promising situations and eventually grew casual after making sure of victory early in the match.
In the second match from the preliminary round, Sliema McDonald's, as expected, took off on a positive note when overcoming Marsascala Solid Base Engineering 17-6.
The champions, parading the familiar Bogdan Rath and Robert Kovacs, started steadily, if not spectacularly, with their opponents limiting the damage to 4-3 until almost midway through the second session.
But then, quick goals provided the Blues with the breather they were after. The rest was more predictable as Sliema, amid constant substitutions, were able to free-wheel their way to a decisive victory after changing ends 10-4 ahead.
There was very little that Anthony Farrugia's team could do as they lacked the strength and know-how of their opponents, with Bodont Szabo and Milos Koralji unable to help their colleagues pull the strings.
Sliema's impressive scoring rate on man-ups helped them towards victory with Kovacs helping himself to five goals.
Summaries
Neptunes 15
Exiles 7
(4-3, 4-1, 4-1, 3-2)
Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 2, B. Lanzon, M. Stellini, D. Camilleri, S. Gravina, S. Camilleri 6, J. Camilleri 1, B. Buhagiar, M. Gornagy 3, Z. Mizzi, T. Molnar 3, M. Pisani.
Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi, K. Rizzo Naudi, C. Bronca, T. Sullivan, M. Calleja, J. Paris 2, K. Grixti, J. Fenech, A. Cousin 4, S. Vassallo, S. Cini, K. Lanzon 1.
Referees: M. Dalli, R. Spiteri.
Sliema 17
Marsascala 6
(4-2, 6-2, 4-2, 3-0)
Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabaretta 2, N. Lubrano 1, P. Privitera 1, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 4, D. Paolella, M. Spiteri Staines, C. Debono, R. Kovacz 5, M. Rizzo, B. Rath 3, A. Bianchi.
Marsascala: R. Sciortino, J.C. Cutajar, B. Szabo 2, M. Koralji 1, M. Borg Spiteri, L. Grixti, J. Licari 1, J. Cremona, S. Micallef, T. Agius, R. Attard 1, G. Pace 1, J. Bonnici.
Referees: A. DeRaffaele, P. Balzan.
Playing tomorrow
6 p.m. Sirens vs Exiles
7.15 p.m. San Ġiljan vs Ta' Xbiex.