Any idea Neptunes Grimaldi may have had that their match against Sirens Ritter Sport would be an easy ride, especially after the St Paul’s Bay team were thrashed by San Ġiljan in their opening game, was soon dismissed.

Yesterday, the improved northerners, also boosted by the return of Gabriel Pace, played a sound tactical game and stayed in contact with the Reds until the beginning of the third session after Sirens had closed the gap to 6-5.

It was a flaky performance by Neptunes who had Michele Stellini sent off with substitution in the second quarter.

Again it was evergreen captain Niki Lanzon who was mainly responsible for the Balluta Bay team gaining the required leverage to offset any shortcomings some of the team’s fringe players had.

Lanzon’s poker and Jordan Camilleri’s hat-trick, plus solid play from Clint Mercieca finally rescued their team.

In the opening match valid for the First Division winter competition, Marsaxlokk Fischer were led by new signing from San Ġiljan, Claudio Spiteri De Barro.

He had a field day when hitting eight goals against Ta’ Xbiex Amigos. The latter side could not avoid a comprehensive 16-6 defeat as their units were short of the required knowhow to put in an adequate challenge.

The second clash of the day between holders Marsascala ASC and a rejuvenated Otters Nivea, ended with Pierre Borg’s team collecting the spoils after a 10-4 victory.

The Gozitan side tried their best to offer worthy opposition but their inexperienced lads had to throw in the towel against opponents who had in their ranks a couple of thoroughbreds in comparison, including three-goal Jean Claude Cutajar, Clyde Bonello, Matthew Pace and Liam Grixti.

Summaries

Marsaxlokk 16
Ta’ Xbiex 6

(3-1, 4-0, 3-4, 6-1)

Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, C. Spiteri De Barro 8, A, Galea, C. Gialanze 1, C. Bu-geja, T. Camilleri, N. Portelli 2, R. Scerri 3, J. Xerri de Caro 2, J. Cremona.

Ta’ Xbiex: J. Micallef, K. Grima Scott, L. Calleja, A. Bajada 1, J. Gauci, K. Mock 3, S. Aquilina, J. Galea 2, R. Greco, L. Pace. P. Micallef.

Referees: S. Licari, M. Angileri.

Marsascala 10
Otters 4

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

Marsascala: K. Schembri, J. C. Cutajar 3, M. Pace, C. Bonello 1, L. Grixti 2, J. Busuttil, S. Micallef 1, K. Navarro 1, D. Cassar 1, C. Mifsud 1, F. Buhagiar.

Otters NIVEA: R. Bonnici, A. Cachia, A. Camenzuli 1, J. Theuma, A. Borg, E. Pace Bonello, N. Camenzuli, M. Borg Millo, M. Dimech, D. Borg Millo 2, C. Martin 1, J. Galea, P. Theuma.

Referees: P. Balzan, P. Giordano.

Neptunes 10
Sirens 6

(1-2, 5-2, 2-1, 2-1)

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 4, M. Lanzon, M. Stellini 2, T. Agius, S. Xerri de Caro, G. Mizzi, J. Camilleri 3, B. Muscat, M. Zammit, B. Lanzon, M. Azzopardi, C. Mercieca 1.

Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Mizzi 1, K. Debattista, G. Pace 2, M. Grech, A. Sammut, M. Caruana, D. Cutajar 2, J. Napier 1, E. Aquilina, H. Schulz, G. Busuttil, J. Zerafa Gregory.

Referees: P. Balzan, A. De Raffaele.

Premier Division

First Division