In the opening match of the day, Exiles Jet Services showed no inferiority complex whatsoever when putting up a gritty and ambitious display to hold the more-quoted Neptunes Emirates to a 10-10 draw.
The final result left the Balluta Bay team in second place in the standings, with five points from first three matches.
The spoils earned by Exiles, albeit minimum, where by no means undeserved as they fought back twice from three goals down and eventually levelled matters after starting the last session two goals adrift on 10-8.
And were it not for some wastefulness on man-up sets, when they netted only once from eight occasions, Exiles would have surely grabbed maximum points. Not that Neptunes were immune from rustiness as they looked slow when driving back to snuff their opponents on the counter.
It was only Niki Lanzon, scorer of six goals, who posed a threat for Joe Caruana Dingli’s team especially with his opportunism from the centre.
On the otherhand, Julian Rizzo Naudi’s four conversions for Exiles were equally useful, particularly when coming at crucial moments on the break. In the end, Neptunes also paid the penalty for their bluntness when within shooting range, a flaw which allowed their opponents their welcome salvo.
Sliema McDonald’s, seeking a win after being jolted by Sirens a week before, could not have had an easier outing to make amends for that upset when they faced Marsascala Solidbase in the second duel of the day.
The Blues’ 15-7 victory attested to their clear supremacy over opponents depleted in terms of numbers and experience.
Sliema were on the goal trail from the very beginning after the southerners had levelled the scores momentarily on 1-1. That was the signal for Sliema to kickstart,scoring six more goals for a 7-1 first-session lead.
The gap widened slightly in the second quarter but then there was no stopping the team under the charge of Sergio Afric who themselves were replete with some new faces.
To their credit, Pierre Borg’s side kept trying and managed to score seven goals.
In the last contest of the day, San Ġiljan Firetech ran out winners over the ASA U-17 selection, in a match which was not valid for points.
Although the Saints had an edge, the selection team battled bravely especially after they trailed 6-1 at one point, and late in the third quarter, they narrowed the deficit to 7-5 with the usual Dino Zammit, their goal catalyst with a total of three followed by Kyle Debattista with two.
On their part, San Ġiljan had Andrea Bianchi and Anthony Galea each finding the net three times.
Neptunes 10
Exiles 10
(4-3, 3-2, 3-3, 0-2)
Neptunes: I. Bugeja, N. Lanzon 6; E. Aquilina, M. Stellini, Z. Mizzi, K. Debattista, J. Camilleri 1, T. Agius, B. Buhagiar, S. Gravina 1, G. Pace, B. Lanzon, M. Pisani 2.
Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi 4, K. Rizzo Naudi 1, D. Pace Lupi 1, T. Sullivan 1, M. Calleja, J. Paris 1, K. Grixti 2, A. Zarb Cousin, S. Cini, S. Vassallo, D. Borg, K. Lanzon.
Refs: M. Dalli, A. Farrugia.
Marsascala 7
Sliema 15
(1-7, 1-2, 3-5, 2-1)
Marsascala: S. Farrugia, C. Spiteri de Barro 3, D. Caruana 1, J. Licari 2, J. Cremona, S. Micallef, K. Galea, K. Navarro, O. Zammit 1, E. Arrigo.
Sliema: R. Coleiro, M. Spiteri Staines 1, N. Lubrano 1, S. Sultana, M. Cordina 1, J. Soler 4, D. Paolella 2, J. Spiteri Staines 2, C. Debono, N. Portelli 1, M. Rizzo 2, M. Agius, D. Abela, D. Borg Millo 1.
Refs: P. Giordano, P. Balzan.
ASA U-17 5
San Ġiljan 11
(1-2, 1-4, 3-3, 0-2)
ASA U-17: R. Leullen, M. Paris, K. Galea, A. Mifsud, E. Meli, K. Dowling, M. Fenech, K. Debattista 2, N. Portelli, D. Borg, L. Caruana, D. Zammit 3, M. Grech.
San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, J.C. Cutajar, A. Galea 3, K. Galea, M. Borg Spiteri, L. Grixti 1, K. Mock 1, C. Gialanze 1, P. Fava 2, A. Bianchi 3, K. Schembri.
Refs: M. Angilleri, R. Spiteri.
Next fixtures
Thursday: 2.30 p.m. Sirens vs Neptunes; 3.45 p.m. San Ġiljan vs Exiles; 5 p.m. Sliema vs ASA U-17.