On paper this was a potentially tricky match for Neptunes Grimaldi. Sirens were expected to offer the Reds some sort of challenge and discomfort.

Surprisingly, these expectations fizzled out yesterday as the champions produced reassuring fare to see off the northerners more easily than the 12-6 scoreline suggested.

Sirens just had no answer to opponents replete with a posse of match winners in their own right, all on the team’s scoring list yesterday, and headed by superb goal-hitter, Steve Camilleri.

Indeed, this was a mis-match given the gulf between the teams.

Neptunes started like an express train, taking a massive 6-0 lead inside the opening 12 minutes. Their goals were of varying quality, resulting from fast breaks or quick transfers of the ball on set play. The executions were clinical.

That emphatic kick-start was followed up by cruising fare to which Sirens had no reply.

Bogdan Rath’s team were very often restricted to approximative long distance shots as the Neptunes’ rearguard appeared to be hermetically sealed. Christian Presciutti was marked out of the game.

Although Sirens succeeded in limiting the deficit to that six-goal early advantage for Neptunes, the proceedings were only of academic interest to the extent Reds coach Zoran Mustur, returning after suspension, opted to put in more of his tailenders into the fray.

San Ġiljan Crystal Finance joined Neptunes at the summit of the table on 21 points after beating Exiles Ferretti 19-12 in yesterday’s last match.

The Saints were not really troubled except for brief moments in the third session when Exiles inched their way back to within two goals on 9-7.

However, San Ġiljan’s scoring protagonists, Guillermo Molina (seven goals), Dino Zammit (five goals) and Boris Vapenski (four goals) again emerged to pull their team clear.

That brisk start by Dino Zammit was followed up in smaller but frequent doses from Molina who was in uncompromising mood.

San Ġiljan’s other scorers were Matthew Zammit with two goals and Paul Fava with one.

For Exiles, who were without regular keeper Ian Bugeja, the main scorers were Romain Blary and Sean Gravina with four goals each.

In Division One, Marsascala Nutrition Empire collected the points at the expense of wooden-spoonists Otters Nivea to join Ta’ Xbiex at the top of the standings.

It was a team effort from the south seasiders who were led by their Hungarian players Matyas Pasztor and Bela Torok, scorers of five and four goals respectively, and Clyde Bonello also scorer of a poker.

Kyle Navarro followed suit with a hat-trick. Otters fought as well as they could but were unable to bridge the deficit.

Summaries

Otters 10
Marsascala 18

(2-4, 2-4, 4-4, 2-6)

Otters: R. Bonnici, M. Borg Millo, M. Paris 1, L. Gialanze, F. Kljajevic 2, E. Meli 2, G. Mizzi 1, S. Dimech 1, N. Paris 2, D. Borg Millo, S. Aksentijevic 1, P. Theuma.

Marsascala: I. Schembri, J.C. Cutajar 1, B. Muscat, C. Bonello 4, B. Torok 4, L. Grixti, K. Navarro 3, J. Cremona, S. Micallef, M. Pasztor 5, D. Cassar, C. Mifsud, M. Pace 1.

Referees: P Giordano, F. Tempesta.

Sirens 6
Neptunes 12

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

Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Mizzi, C. Presciutti 1, G. Pace 1, M. Grech, C. Kiss 3, M. Caruana, D. Cutajar, J. Napier, E. Aquilina, L. Caruana 1, A, Sammut, J. Sciberras.

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

Referees: M. Dalli, S. Alfi.

Exiles 12
San Ġiljan 19

(1-4, 3-4, 4-5, 4-6)

Exiles: D. Abela, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo 1, D. Pace Lupi, R. Blary 4, J. Spiteri Staines, S. Gravina 4, K. Grixti 1, I Bugeja, A. Bianchi, M. Cuk 2, L. Peric, K. Lanzon.

San Ġiljan: J. Sammut, B. Grech, A. Galea, B. Vapenski 4, G. Molina 7, M. Zammit 2, K. Galea, Darren Zammit, B. Plumpton, A. Cousin, P. Fava 1, Dino Zammit 5, D. Spiteri.

Referees: M. Angileri, F. Tempesta.

Premier League

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Neptunes	8	7	0	1	99	60	21
San Giljan	8	7	0	1	98	71	21
Sliema	8	4	1	3	95	81	13
Sirens	8	3	1	4	85	82	10
Valletta	8	2	0	6	70	102	6
Exiles	8	0	0	8	70	121	0

Division One

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Marsascala	7	5	0	2	99	78	15
Ta’ Xbiex	7	5	0	2	90	79	15
Marsaxlokk	7	4	0	3	99	82	12
Otters	7	0	0	7	63	112	0