In the first top division clash of this year’s Winter League, champions Neptunes Emirates had a very casual ride against Exiles Ferretti when winning 18-4, yesterday.

The Balluta team were a much stronger outfit than their opponents from across St Julian’s Bay.

A well-deployed rearguard and quick thrusts forward helped Neptunes to a 3-1 first session lead which was stretched to 6-1 by the end of the second, with Niki Lanzon scoring the bulk of goals. .

In the last two quarters the pattern remained unaltered despite Neptunes introducing several tailenders.

Exiles had been totally submerged under an avalanche of goals.

In the preceding match, which opened this year’s programme, Ta’ Xbiex Amigos faced Otters Nivea.

The match ended all square on 9-9 after Ta’ Xbiex staged a recovery to annul a 6-1 adverse scoreline by mid-match and score an equaliser in the last second of the match.

For the Gozitan team veteran John Paris made a re-appearance and scored four goals. For ta’ Xbiex, Otis Zammit also secured a poker.

Summaries

Ta’ Xbiex 9
Otters 9

(0-3, 1-3, 4-2, 4-1)

Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, L. Pace, L. Cassar. J. Gauci, M. Asiak 2, S. Aquilina 3, C. Pace, K. Camilleri, J.Galea, E. Gravina, R. Attard, O. Zammit 4, J. Micallef.

Otters: M. Castillo, P. Sciberras, G. Zammit 1, S. Xerri, A. Cachia, A. Borg, J. Paris 4, D. Schembri, K. Scicluna, S. Dimech 3, C. Martin, D. Borg Millo, K. Grima Scott 1.

Refs: S. Licari, M. Angileri.

Exiles 4
Neptunes 18

(1-3, 1-6, 1-4, 1-5)

Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi 2, P. Paris, J. Spiteri Staines, K. Grixti 1, M. Paris, P. Borg 1, B. Lanzon, L. Borg, K. Lanzon, S. Galea Pace, L. Peric.

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 6, L. Calleja, M. Stellini 4, T. Agius 1, M. Lanzon, K. Navarro, J. Camilleri 2, A. Zarb Cousin 3, S. Xerri De Caro, K. Debattista, G. Mizzi, C. Mercieca 1, B. Muscat, M. Zammit 1.

Refs: R. Spiteri, M. Dalli.