San Giljan attack the Neptunes’ goal during yesterday’s match at the National Pool, Tal-Qroqq. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

San Ġiljan Crystal Finance earned a deserved ovation from their supporters after they had the better of neighbours Neptunes Grimaldi in yesterday’s match of the day.

A slightly longer bench and thus more judicious use of their middle order units helped them stay the pace better and earned them a vital win against opponents who again started well to lead 3-1 by the changeover but then fumbled the third session after which they struggled to get back into contention.

The Reds were steadier in those initial quarters but their undoing was again their over-reliance on their top order players with the result that they contrived to run out of steam mentally.

It was touch and go midway through the penultimate quarter but when the resurgent Saints turned it round, there was no stopping them.

Midway into the last session Marko Orlovic must have been relieved to see his boys move into a relatively comfortable 8-5 lead, after which two late goals from their opponents were not enough to save them the match.

The second Premier League match resulted into an easy ride for Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate, who, as expected, took the initiative against Exiles Ferretti to emerge clear winners by 13 goals to six.

The Blues’ 4-1 lead when ends were changed was enough to put their minds at rest. By then Nikola Dedovic had already netted a hat-trick, only to score another goal in the final session. Exiles fought as well as they could but were unable to stem the tide.

Sliema extended their advantage to 7-2 by the end of the penultimate quarter and in the last part of the game they cantered home to a comfortable victory.

In the lower division, Ta’ Xbiex Amigos, led by their Hungarian duo of Adam Maclari and Mark Kallay, scorers of six and five goals respectively, surprised the more fancied Marsaxlokk Fischer to finish deserved 14-12 winners.

Their superiority surfaced in the last session as the Hungarian players broke time and again to score vital goals.

Summaries

Ta’ Xbiex 14
Marsaxlokk 12

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

Ta’ Xbiex: J. Micallef, A. Maclari 6, A. Camenzuli 1, G Attard, M. Kallay 5, K. Mock 1, J. Galea, G. Debono, E. Gravina 1, M. Zammit, A. Mifsud, L. Pace, K. Grima Scott.

Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, M. Korolija 1, A. Galea, C. Gialanze 2, C. Bugeja 2, N. Portelli, I. Vuksanovic 3, A. Zarb Cousin 1, R. Scerri, M. Lanzon 3, J. Xerri de Caro, J. Cremona.

Referees: M. Dalli, M. Cataldi.

Neptunes 7
San Ġiljan 8

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

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, J. Abela, M. Stellini 2, T. Agius, I. Krapic, S. Camilleri 2, J. Camilleri 2, M. Castillo, P. Biros, B. Lanzon, S. Xerri de Caro, C. Mercieca.

San Ġiljan: J. Sammut, P. Borg, A. Galea, B. Vapenski 2, G. Molina 2, M. Zammit 1, K. Galea, Darren Zammit, B. Plumpton, A. Cousin 2, P. Fava, Dino Zammit 1, D. Spiteri.

Referees: M. Bianchi and M. Angileri.

Sliema 13
Exiles 6

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

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 2, K. Dowling 1, T. Sullivan, M. Meli, J. Soler 3, M. Spiteri Staines, C. Cluett, N. Bugelli 1, M. Bodegas, A. Attard 2, N. Dedovic 4, Z. Sciberras.

Exiles Feretti: I. Bugeja, L. Peric, S. Vassallo 2, D. Pace Lupi, R. Blary 2, J. Spiteri Staines 1, S. Gravina, K. Grixti, D. Abela, A. Bianchi, M. Cuk 1, P. Paris, K. Lanzon.

Referees: M. Cataldi, P. Balzan.