This was champions stuff from an imperious Neptunes Grimaldi who steamrolled over neighbours San Ġiljan Allcare Insurance almost nonchalantly after putting their guns in blazing mode in the last two sessions to emerge 17-10 clearcut winners.

The Reds’ craft and various tactical options are determining factors which add to their mental strength.

Yesterday the Saints could only live with Sergey Markoch’s troupes for the first two sessions and after that the Balluta team took charge to annihilate them.

The absence of centre Karl Galea mattered much less than their profligacy when they had numerical superiority. Their two on eight reading contrasted sharply with Neptunes’ exceptional ten on 11 card.

A two-goal start in the Saints’s favour was overturned (3-2) before San Ġiljan equalised, only for the Reds to regain a first session 4-3 lead.

Another close second session produced eight shared goals, with the Saints moving ahead on 6-4. However, four goals from Neptunes, two on each side of a 7-6 lead for the Saints put them 8-7 in front at midpoint.

A mini 5-1 blitz followed in the third quarter with Peter Biros scoring three in succession to make amends for a missed penalty earlier.

There was no stopping the Reds now, as Steve Camilleri’s five goals and earlier a poker from the ageless Tamas Molnar, back in the team after his suspension, helped their side to complete the rout.

The champions altered the tempo of their game and scored almost at will to leave their opponents bewildered.

The 17-10 hiding said it all.

In line with current form, Sirens Ritter Sport dismissed Valletta McDonald’s 11-8 to avenge their 13-10 defeat in the previous round match, a result that consolidates their position ahead of the start of the relegation pool.

The outcome rewarded the team which grabbed more opportunities when they had numerical advantage as well as being more opportunistic when on shooting range.

A low-scoring opening session contrasted sharply with nine goals in the second as Sirens changed ends 7-5 in front. That two-goal lead was maintained on 8-6 into the last session as Sirens were spearheaded by Christian Presciutti and Csaba Kiss.

In the last quarter John Farrugia’s team, yesterday including their useful player Gabriel Pace, drove home their edge.

In the Division One match Ta’ Xbiex Amigos scored their first win of the season when they beat Otters Nivea 9-7. Mario Zammit deployed his units well, with the usual Peter Markoch scheming the team and Milos Maksimovic marking Ivan Vuksanovic to good effect, besides scoring a hat-trick.

Summaries

Ta’ Xbiex 9
Otters 7

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

Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, L. Pace, M. Camilleri, S. Aquilina, M. Agius 1, T. Zammit, S. Gravina, K. Debattista 1, E. Gravina, M. Maksimovic 3, R. Attard 1, O.. Zammit 2, P. Markoch 1

Otters: J. Micallef, G. Attard 1, G. Zammit, A. Azzopardi, R. Bonnici, A. Borg, J. Paris 1, D. Schembri, A. Edward 1, S. Dimech 1. C. Martin 1, I. Vuksanovic 1, K. Grima Scott 1

Referees: S. Licari, S. Alfi

Sirens 11
Valletta 8

(2-1, 5-4, 1-1, 3-2)

Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Mizzi 2, C. Presciutti 3, G. Pace, M. Grech, C. Kiss 3, M. Caruana, D. Cutajar 2, J. Napier, E. Aquilina, L. Caruana, A. Sammut 1, M. Pisani

Valletta: R. Sciortino, R. Mock 1, M. Spiteri Staines, M. Korolija 3, N. Bonello Ghio, S. Cachia, D. Paolella 1, D. Abela, J. C Farrugia, C. Zammit 1, M. Cordina, D. Filipovic 1, M. Rizzo 1

Referees: R. Spiteri, A. Marongiu

San Ġiljan 10
Neptunes 17

(3-4, 4-4, 1-5, 2-4)

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro, A. Galea 1, B. Plumpton, K. Dowling 1, M. Zammit 1, A. Radovic 4, A. Bianchi 1, Keith Galea, Z. Kovacic 2, P. Fava, D. Zammit, J. Sammut.

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, M. Lanzon, M. Stellini 2, T. Agius, G. Mizzi, S. Camilleri 5, J. Camilleri 2, A. Zarb Cousin, P. Biros 3, B. Muscat, T. Molnar 4, C. Mercieca

Referees: P. Balzan, S. Alfi

Premier League

  P W D L F A Pts
Neptunes 10 8 2 0 144 97 26
Sliema 10 6 3 1 113 100 21
San Ġiljan 10 5 0 5 117 99 15
Sirens 10 4 1 5 107 114 13
Valletta 10 2 1 7 96 120 7
Exiles 10 0 3 7 82 129 3

First Division

  P W D L F A Pts
Marsascala 8 5 3 0 93 80 18
Marsaxlokk 8 3 2 3 80 79 11
Otters 7 2 2 3 71 75 8
Ta’ Xbiex 7 1 1 5 64 74 4

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