Neptunes Grimaldi and San Ġiljan Crystal Finance scored easy victories over Exiles Ferretti and Valletta McDonald’s respectively in yesterday’s two Premier League matches.

The Reds had a good opportunity to go on a rehabilitation course when they faced Exiles after their two setbacks last week. This they did in a determined manner in the first and last sessions in a match which somewhat exposed some frailties in the middle quarters.

They started like a whirlwind, winning the first session 7-1. After opening a 10-1 lead, Exiles staged a partial recovery to cut the deficit to four goals, before the teams changed ends with Neptunes leading 11-5.

Chinks in Neptunes’ armoury were again exposed in the third session as their fighting opponents shared four goals.

By then Ivan Krapic was procuring regular expulsions in his team’s favour, with Zoran Mustur at last going for more rotation, using his middle order players more often than he had done of late.

The last session was again a cruise for the champions as they won it 5-1 to close their account on 18-8.

In the last match of the day, Valletta found to their expense that San Ġiljan are a different proposition than Sirens whom the City team beat in their previous outing.

Inspired largely by five-goal Aurelien Cousin, the Saints’ foothold was also secured by their teamwork moulded around their core players including their foreigners. They also managed an excellent six on seven extra-man goals.

Valletta could not keep up with their opponents’ rhythm especially resulting from their inability to net any goal on seven man-up sets. The result meant that the Saints move to the top of the table with maximum points from two matches.

A much-improved Ta’ Xbiex Amigos did likewise when they added the scalp of Division One champions Marsascala Nutrition Empire 18-11.

They were boosted by the Hungarian Adam Maklari, scorer of a mammoth ten goals, all of varying quality.

Summaries

Marsascala 11
Ta’ Xbiex 18

(2-3, 3-3, 1-5, 5-7)

Marsascala: K. Schembri, J.C. Cutajar 1, M. Pace, C. Bonello 3, B. Torok 1, L. Grixti 2, K. Navarro 1, F. Borg, S. Micallef, M. Pasztor 3, D. Cassar, C. Mifsud, B. Muscat.

Ta’ Xbiex: J. Micallef, A. Maclari 10, A. Camenzuli, G. Attard, M. Kallay 3, K. Mock 2, E. Gravina 1, M. Mifsud, G. Debono, L. Pace, A. Mifsud, M. Zammit, K. Grima Scott 2.

Referees: A. Sgarra, M. Dalli.

Exiles 8
Neptunes 18

(1-7, 4-4, 2-2, 1-5)

Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo 1, D. Pace Lupi, R. Blary 2, J. Spiteri Staines 1, S. Gravina, K. Grixti 1, D. Abela, A. Bianchi, M. Cuk 3, L. Felice, K. Lanzon.

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole. N. Lanzon 2, M. Azzopardi, M. Stellini 2, T. Agius, I. Krapic 2, S. Camilleri 5, J. Camilleri 3, M. Castillo, P. Biros 4, B. Lanzon, S. Xerri de Caro, C. Mercieca.

Referees: R. Spiteri, G. Ibba.

San Ġiljan 15
Valletta 6

(5-2, 2-1, 4-0, 4-3)

San Ġiljan: J. Sammut, P. Borg 1, A. Galea, B. Vapenski 1, G. Molina 3, M. Zammit 2, K. Galea, Darren Zammit, B. Grech, A. Cousin 5, P. Fava, Dino Zammit 3, D. Spiteri.

Valletta: R. Sciortino, O. Zammit, M. Rizzo 1, K. Galea, A. Agius, R. Mock 1, G. Kiss 2, N. Bonello Ghio, M. Cordina, C. Zammit 1, D. Paolella, D. Filipovic 1, D. Camilleri.

Referees: P. Balzan, A. Sgarra.

Standings

Premier League

Division One