Neptunes goalkeeper Alan Borg Cole produces a fine save against Sliema at the National Pool, yesterday. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Employing a more effective game-plan based on stringent press and superior muscle, Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate proved to be a sprightlier and more compact lot as they had the better of Neptunes more comfortably than the result indicates.

The Blues have thus kept a clean slate from their first three outings, leaving their opponents three points adrift. The moot point is whether the Reds could have avoided defeat had they exploited more than five of their massive 14 man-up sets.

However, Sliema had an edge in concentration and possessed more valid middle order units, besides having left-hander Michael Spiteri Staines, scorer of a hat-trick, again leading his team’s strikers’ list.

Paul Privitera’s troupes pulled clear on 9-5 in the third session, only for Neptunes to cut the leeway to respectable proportions in the last quarter.

The match had a heated ending when Nicky Lanzon and Jordan Camilleri for Neptunes and Sliema’s Spiteri Staines were excluded with substitution.

In yesterday’s opener, Otters Nivea were subdued by Marsaxlokk Fischer who breezed to a 19-6 win, once more helped by Claudio Spiteri de Barro who hit six goals.

The southerners kept widening the gap after a 7-1 kick-start and despite a mini scoring surge by the Gozitan side in the latter sessions.

Neptunes 7
Sliema 9

(2-2, 1-2, 2-5, 2-0)

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

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 1, E. Meli, T. Sullivan, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 1, M. Spiteri Staines 3, C. Cluett, J. Brownrigg 1, A. Attard 1, A. Mifsud 1, M. Mifsud, Z. Sciberras.

Referees: M. Angileri, A. DeRaffaele.

Otters 6
Marsaxlokk 19

(1-7, 0-2, 2-4, 3-6)

Otters: R. Bonnici, A. Cachia, A. Camenzuli 2, A, Azzopardi, A. Borg, E. Pace Bonello, N. Camenzuli, M. Borg Millo 1, M. Dimech, D. Borg Millo 3, C. Martin, J. Galea, P. Theuma.

Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, C. Spiteri DeBarro 6, A. Galea 1, C. Gialanze, C. Bugeja 1, T. Camilleri, N. Portelli 3, R. Scerri 4, J. Xerri de Caro 4, J. Cremona.

Referees: R. Spiteri, P. Giordano.