Playing below their normal levels when facing an otherwise perky Valletta McDonald’s, Neptunes Grimaldi had to wait until the third quarter yesterday to inject their knowhow and finally turn the tables on their disciplined opponents who then conceded the game 11-8.
The City team’s diligent covering and their superior shot efficiency in the first sessions stunned their opponents who contrived hurried and blunt shots besides tossing away their opening three extra player sets.
Neptunes ended up on a poor two on ten conversions, with Valletta, without Daniel Paolella, scoring a healthy five on eight.
However, the City team’s ascendancy took a nose-dive in the third session, a shortcoming which coincided with Neptunes’ comeback. This had Michele Stellini scoring thunderous goals on either side of goals by Ivan Krapic and a brace from Clint Mecieca who has rediscovered his scoring impetus when eventually striking a hat-trick.
The 5-1 score in that penultimate session overturned the 6-4 advantage Anthony Farrugia’s team had before half-time.
That made it 9-7 into the last session during which Peter Biros had at last found the net to help his team extend the lead to 10-7 before Mercieca scored his side’s last goal to extend the 10-8 lead as Michael Cordina had scored Valletta’s last goal.
In the end, a largely edgy Neptunes were good enough to win by three lengths to go top of the table, with San Ġiljan having today’s game against Sliema in hand.
In a match of relative importance given that the standings in the bottom pool had already been determined, Sirens Ritter Sport eased away to a 14-8 victory over Exiles Ferretti after they blew away their opponents 6-1 in the second quarter.
That scoreline flattened Maurizio Mirarchi’s side as Edward Aquilina, retaining his excellent scoring form, was again the protagonist alongside Christian Presciutti and Csaba Kiss, all of whom struck four times.
It was an uphill task for Exiles after that second quarter as they laboured to restrict the damage, never mind Marco Cuk’s poker of goals only tainted when he missed two penalty throws.
Summaries
Valletta 8
Neptunes 11
(3-2, 3-2 1-5, 1-2)
Valletta Mcdonald’s: R Sciortino, O. Zammit, M. Rizzo, K. Galea 1, A. Agius, R. Mock, G. Kiss 2, N. Bonello Ghio, M. Cordina 2, C. Zammit 2, D. Filipovic 1, D. Camilleri.
Neptunes Grimaldi: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, M. Castillo, M. Stellini 2, T. Agius, I. Krapic 1, S. Camilleri 2, J. Camilleri 1, M. Azzopardi, P. Biros 1, B. Lanzon, S. Xerri de Caro, C. Mercieca 3.
Referees: M. Dalli, S. Scappini.
Sirens 14
Exiles 8
(3-2, 6-1, 4-2, 1-3)
Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Mizzi, C. Presciutti 4, G. Pace, M. Grech 1, C. Kiss 4, M. Caruana, D. Cutajar, J. Napier, E. Aquilina 4, L. Caruana 1, A. Sammut, I. Riolo.
Exiles: D. Abela, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi, R. Blary 3, J. Spiteri Staines, S. Gravina, K. Grixti 1, I. Bugeja, A. Bianchi, M. Cuk 4, P. Paris, K. Lanzon.
Referees: M. Angileri, F. Riccioli.
Premier League
P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
Neptunes | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 119 | 77 | 25 |
San Giljan | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 106 | 78 | 24 |
Sliema | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 104 | 90 | 14 |
Sirens | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 106 | 98 | 13 |
Valletta | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 85 | 121 | 6 |
Exiles | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 86 | 142 | 3 |
Playing today
Premier League: 18.15 Sliema Frank Salt vs San Giljan C. Finance.