Neptunes Emirates kept their 100 per cent record in the BOV Winter League when they defeated Sliema McDonald’s 9-7 in yesterday’s first match at Tal-Qroqq.

Although not quite generating the usual cauldron of tension, the fare was distinctly interesting as Neptunes threatened to run away when building a four-goal lead early on only for the Blues to make a comeback and almost save the game.

The erratic Sliema trailed by two goals in the opening quarter.

Neptunes made it 5-1 by the half-way mark as they kept punishing their opponents. At this point, the Blues were forced to salvage their pride and in the third session they stunned their opponents when they made a comeback after Neptunes missed a penalty when 6-2 in front.

In no time, it was 6-5 before a goal by captain Niki Lanzon made it 7-5 for the Balluta Bay team with the last session to go.

After John Soler made it 7-6, Neptunes’ top scorer yesterday Jordan Camilleri, underlined his team’s edge with two further goals for a 9-6 lead.

Sliema’s last goal, netted by Michael Rizzo, in the final stages was to no avail.

The second match between 3CX Exiles and Sirens Ritter Sport was another interesting affair resolved in favour of the team from Sliema who have certainly come some way under coach Aurelien Cousin towards making deserved inroads.

There was little in it in the first three sessions as Sirens managed to breath down the necks of their opponents whose lead hovered between one and two goals.

Sirens’ persistence earned them an equaliser, with the final quarter starting on six goals apiece.

In that last session, however, Sirens flattered to deceive as Exiles made sure of victory, albeit with three late goals before their opponents netted through Alex Attard for a similar scoreline as in the first encounter of the evening.

Sliema 7
Neptunes 9
(0-2, 1-3, 4-2, 2-2)

Sliema: R. Coleiro, N. Bugelli, N. Lubrano, P. Privitera 1, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 1, D. Paolella, J. Brownrigg 2, C. Debono, M. Fenech, M. Rizzo 2, E. Meli, Z. Sciberras, M. Agius, N. Portelli.

Neptunes: I. Bugeja, N. Lanzon 2, E. Aquilina, M. Stellini 2, Z. Mizzi, G. Pace, J. Camilleri 3, S. Scerri de Caro, B. Lanzon, S. Gravina, T. Agius 1, K. Debattista, C. Mercieca 1, R. Scior-tino, L. Ellul.

Refs: M. Dalli, M. Angilleri.

Exiles 9
Sirens 7
(2-2, 4-3, 0-1, 3-1)

Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi, K. Rizzo Naudi, T. Sullivan 2, P. Paris, J. Spiteri Staines 2, K. Grixti 1, D. Pace Lupi, P. Borg 2, S. Vassallo, M. Paris, K. Lanzon 2.

Sirens: A. Grech, A. Attard 1, M. Manara, V. Bartolo, T. Kusztos, A. Sammut, J. Borg 2, D. Cutajar 1, A. Zarb Cousin 1, C. Zammit, C. Spiteri de Barro 1, D. Zammit 1, J. Sammut.

Refs: P. Balzan, S. Licari.


P W D L F A Pts
Neptunes 3 3 0 0 38 16 9
Sirens 3 2 0 1 35 15 6
Sliema 4 2 0 2 40 30 6
San Ġiljan 3 2 0 1 36 26 6
Exiles 4 2 0 2 36 39 6
Marsascala 4 1 0 3 21 53 3
Valletta 3 0 0 3 12 39 0

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