Neptunes Grimaldi are fast earning a reputation of making seemingly easy tasks look difficult.

In all their matches this summer they had a brisk opening only to start misfiring as the proceedings unfold. They lived up to that billing yesterday when they faced Sirens Ritter Sport.

They took off from the blocks explosively, helping themselves to a 5-0 lead, only to fall into a mental rut.

That advantage, engineered chiefly by Reds’ duo Steve Camilleri, scorer of a poker, and Peter Biros, gradually shrunk until the bold St Paul’s Bay team levelled matters on 7-7 seconds into the last session.

Then with both teams frittering a host of extra-man advantages after Hungarian Biros scored his third goal for an 8-7 lead, Neptunes recovered some of their earlier focus to strike twice with 96 seconds left and thus condemn their gallant opponents to a three-goal defeat.

In an earlier match, San Ġiljan Crystal Finances had no trouble seeing off Exiles Ferretti 14-7, a result that leaves them on top of the standings with maximum points from three matches.

There was little their opponents could do except try to contain the Saints’ power which was directed from the rear by Guillermo Molina and Aurelien Cousin, the propulsion of Boris Vapenski and the muscle of Matthew Zammit.

The gap kept widening gradually as coach Marko Orlovic eventually made wise use of all his units, by which time his team stepped down to pause mode.

Exiles had Marko Cuk scoring five goals in this match.

Meanwhile, after their 18-11 loss against surprise leaders Ta’ Xbiex, Division One champions Marsascala Nutrition Empire again came a cropper, this time to neighbours Marsaxlokk Fischer.

The 12-9 victory for Ian Azzopardi’s side matured mainly in the middle sessions and courtesy of the opportunism of Ivan Vuksanovic, scorer of five goals.

Despite another nap hand of strikes from Matyas Pasztor, Marsascala were out of their depth after taking an early 3-1 lead.

Summaries

Marsascala 9
Marsaxlokk 12

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

Marsascala: K. Schembri, J.C. Cutajar 2, M. Pace, C. Bonello 1, B. Torok, L. Grixti, K. Navarro, J. Cremona, S. Micallef 1, M. Pasztor 5, D. Cassar, C. Mifsud, B. Muscat.

Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, C. Spiteri De Barro 1, M. Korolija 1, A. Galea, C. Gialanze 2, C. Bugeja 1, N. Portelli, I. Vuksanovic 5, A. Zarb Cousin 1, R. Scerri 1, M. Lanzon, J. Xerri de Caro, J. Cremona.

Referees: R. Spiteri and G. Bona-vita.

San Ġiljan 14
Exiles 7

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

San Ġiljan: J. Sammut, P. Borg 2, A. Galea 1, B. Vapenski 4, G. Molina 2, M. Zammit 2, K. Galea 1, Darren Zammit, B. Grech, A. Cousin, P. Fava 1, Dino Zammit 1, D. Spiteri.

Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi, R. Blary 2, J. Spiteri Staines, S. Gravina, K. Grixti, D. Abela, A. Bianchi, M. Cuk 5, P. Paris K. Lanzon.

Referees: P. Balzan and G. Del Bosco.

Neptunes10
Sirens 7

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

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, N. Farrugia, M. Stellini, T. Agius, I. Krapic 1, S. Camilleri 4, J. Camilleri, M. Castillo, P. Biros 3, B. Lanzon, S. Xerri de Caro, C. Mercieca 1.

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

Referees: M. Dalli, G. Del Bosco.

Premier League

Division One