Neptunes make top spot

Neptunes Emirates again pulled the strings to dismiss 3CX Exiles and in the process win Group A, thus relegating their opponents to the third place behind Sirens Ritter Sport with Valletta finishing fourth on goal difference.

The play-offs to determine the divisions will see the correspon-ding four top teams in each sec-tion play each other tomorrow and Wednesday.

As the pundits expected, the Neptunes-Exiles match resulted in an easy test for the Reds whose credentials alongside those of Sliema McDonald’s should put them among the favourites for this year’s title.

Despite Exiles’ fighting stance, the champions made sure of their victory in the opening sessions, thereafter going through the formalities of giving their tailenders a feel of the water.

After twice going a goal down, Neptunes charged their batteries to take a 4-2 lead at the end of the first session, with Michele Stellini netting a brace.

The writing was on the wall for Exiles as they slumped to an 8-3 deficit at the half-way mark. The Reds, bar some over-confidence, had been clearly in the driving seat, with Steve Camilleri and Tamas Molnar emulating Stellini in the scoring statistics up till then.

Vladimir Gojkovic scored twice but not before Molnar netted his personal third. Stellini followed suit before Camilleri had a penalty saved.

Nevertheless, Neptunes stret-ched their lead to seven goals at the three-quarter mark, an advantage which had coach Sergei Markoch reshuffling his team.

These changes helped Exiles to win the last session 3-1 and make it a less gaping defeat.

Sirens were made to stretch themselves more than expected in the opening match before finally making it a comfortable victory against Ta’ Xbiex.

The team from the north had a mini 2-0 flying start but not before long Ta’ Xbiex levelled matters only for Sirens to edge ahead again. However, before the session ended Ta’ Xbiex equalised.

Mario Zammit’s team were not taking this lying down and indeed they took a 5-3 lead before the northerners made it five-all. Within a minute Sirens found their feet again to break through their opponents’ ranks three times more for an 8-5 lead.

Ta’ Xbiex closed the gap before the interval and remained competitive, pulling back on 8-7. But, again, Sirens stretched their lead to 12-9 with one session left.

Meanwhile, Charlie Zammit was making his mark goalwise, netting his fourth goal as Sirens finally eased clear for a seven-goal cushion in the last moments.

Ta’ Xbiex though had offered some resistance.

Summaries

Sirens 17
Ta’ Xbiex 10
(3-3, 5-3, 4-3, 5-1)

Sirens: J. Sammut, A. Attard 1, P. Micallef, P. Borg 1, B. Nyeki 4, R. Mock, J. Borg, D. Cutajar, P. Zimonjic 1, C. Zammit 4, L. Caruana, D. Zammit 3, C. Mercieca 3.

Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, S. Vassallo 1, C. Cluett, D. Borg 1, J.C. Decelis, T. Gyrovath 3, E. Bonello 2, M. Cordina 2, M. Agius, R. Attard, B. Muscat, Y. Zseles 1.

Referees: M. Dalli, P. Giordano.

Neptunes 13
Exiles 8
(4-2, 4-1, 4-2, 1-3)

Neptunes: I. Bugeja, N. Lanzon 1, E. Aquilina, M. Stellini 3, J. Camilleri, Z. Mizzi, S. Camilleri 4, V. Gojkovic 2, B. Buhagiar, S. Gravina, R. Sciortino, T. Molnar 3, G. Pace.

Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, K. Rizzo Naudi 1, D. Pace Lupi, T. Sullivan 3, M. Calleja, M. Cuk 2, K. Grixti 1, A. Zarb Cousin, A. Cousin, J. Paris, A. Sciberras, K. Lanzon.

Referees: G. Centineo, S. Licari.