It was odds on that the match between San Ġiljan Crystal Finance and Neptunes Grimaldi would be a titanic duel. The balance between the sides as well as the traditional sporting rivalry which has been ignited in recent years made for such expectations.

The teams’ supporters who turned up in good numbers at the National Pool yesterday were regaled to an exciting contest which kept them biting their nails up till the very end.

The champions emerged winners to inflict the first defeat on their neighbours and in the process join the same Saints at the top of the table on 15 points.

It was touch and go even if the Reds conducted the scoreline except for a brief moment in the first session before Michele Stellini equalised. The physical content reached high levels but the sporting element was even more pronounced.

Neptunes won because they had an excellent Steve Camilleri not only leading their scorers’ list but also because of his versatility.

Ivan Krapic was also a thorn in the Saints’ side, scoring a brace and earning several exclusions.

The Reds had coach Zoran Mustur red-carded in the middle of the first session for passing remarks.

However, assistant Dorian Pisani showed his mettle when guiding his players to help them eek out their best against their fighting opponents who were inspired by four-goal Guillermo Molina and Boris Vapenski, scorer of a hat-trick.

There was little to choose bet-ween the sides early on.

Neptunes were once two goals ahead on 6-4 late in the second session before Matthew Zammit scored a typical goal to reduce that gap.

Goals alternated in the third quarter as the Reds repeatedly edged in front, with San Ġiljan drawing level every time before the hard-working captain Niki Lanzon scored his second goal for a 9-8 Neptunes lead into the last session.

In the final eight minutes Neptunes were a cooler lot. Steve Camilleri extended the lead to 10-8 with a snap goal only for Molina to clip a goal back.

However, the reliable Jordan Camilleri, who stood out at the back together with goalkeeper Alan Borg Cole, put the issue beyond doubt when he struck 26 seconds from the end.

In the first match Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate pulled clear in the last session to finally sink the gallant Exiles Ferretti 14-12.

Although the Blues had more guns they toiled for most of the match and were unable to assert any sort of superiority.

Scorewise it had been close until the end of the third session when only a goal separated the sides.

Exiles for whom Matthew Pisani was replacing the suspended coach Maurizio Mirarchi, were an organised lot. They only threw in the towel in the last session.

Summaries

Exiles 12
Sliema 14

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

Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo 1, D. Pace Lupi 1, R. Blary 1, J. Spiteri Staines, S. Gravina 1, K. Grixti, D. Abela, A. Bianchi 1, M. Cuk 6, P. Paris, K. Lanzon 1.

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

Referees: M. Angileri, F. Barbera.

San Ġiljan 9
Neptunes 11

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

San Ġiljan: J. Sammut, P. Borg, A. Galea, B. Vapenski 3, G. Molina 4, M. Zammit 1, K. Galea, J. Busuttil, B. Plumpton, A. Cousin, P. Fava, D. Zammit 1, D. Spiteri.

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 2, J. Abela, M. Stellini 1, T. Agius, I. Krapic 2, S. Camilleri 4, J. Camilleri 1, M. Castillo, P. Biros 1, B. Lanzon, S. Xerri de Caro, C. Mercieca.

Referees: P. Balzan, M. Calabro.

Premier League

  P W D L F A Pts
San Giljan 6 5 0 1 66 49 15
Neptunes 6 5 0 1 59 46 15
Sliema 6 3 1 2 73 61 10
Sirens 6 2 1 3 65 57 7
Valletta 6 2 0 4 54 80 6
Exiles 6 0 0 6 50 84 0

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