The three fancied teams in the Premier Division, San Ġiljan Allcare Insurance, Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate and and Neptunes Grimaldi had an easy stroll when disposing of Sirens Ritter Sport, Valletta McDonald’s and Exiles Ferretti respectively on the first day of the 2015 Winter League.

The matches, played in inclement weather, offered little excitement, with the Saints and the Balluta team ramming home their undoubted advantage, while the Blues eventually got the measure of a disciplined Valletta side to register a discreet win.

The Saints, led by six-goal Dino Zammit and guided by Emile Nikolic from the bench, scored at will while the promising tandem of Andreas Galea and Ben Plumpton rolled in five and three goals respectively.

San Ġiljan had Peter Borg making his debut in lieu of Andrea Bianchi, who has joined Exiles, while Sirens included newcomers Kyle Debattista, Gianluca Busuttil and J. Zerafa Gregory.

Sliema’s wobbly start in the opening session against Valletta was eventually righted as they found a modicum of scoring touch.

They moved on after that first quarter to win 8-4, with John Soler netting a hat-trick and Jerome Gabarretta a brace. The side, led by Paul Privitera, included Edward Meli as well as Aleandro and Michele Mifsud, while Valletta paraded Dean Camilleri, signed from San Ġiljan, but were without centre Karl Galea.

The last match was a cantering victory for Neptunes against Exiles who were under the charge of Matthew Pisani.

Although not firing on all pistons due to the constant use of their fringe players, the Reds were too good for their opponents. They had John Xerri de Caro and Benji Lanzon back after their loan spell, this duo making up for the absence of Andrew Zarb Cousin who is understood to have retired.

Niki Lanzon spearheaded the team with a double hat-trick. The Reds were tight at the back and thus stifled their opponents’ otherwise weak offensive play.

Summaries

Sirens 6
San Ġiljan 21

(1-5, 2-4, 2-6, 1-6)

Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Mizzi 2, K. Debattista, G. Debono, M. Grech 1, A. Sammut, M. Caruana, D. Cutajar 2, J. Napier, E. Aquilina, L. Caruana, G. Busuttil 1, J. Zerafa Gregory.

San Ġiljan: J. Sammut, P. Borg 1, A. Galea 5, K. Galea, K. Dowling 1, M. Zammit 2, B. Plumpton 3, D. Zammit 1, P. Fava 2, D. Zammit 6, D. Spiteri.

Referees: S. Licari, P. Balzan.

Valletta 4
Sliema 8

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

Valletta: R. Sciortino 1, M. Rizzo 2, N. Bonello Ghio, R. Mock, D. Paolella, J. C. Farrugia, M. Cordina 1, C. Zammit, O. Zammit, D. Camilleri.

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 2, J. Gambin, T. Sullivan, M. Meli, J. Soler 3, E. Meli 1, C. Cluett 1, J. Brownrigg 1, A. Attard, A. Mifsud, M. Mifsud, Z. Sciberras.

Referees: M. Dalli, A. De Raffaele.

Exiles 1
Neptunes 14

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

Exiles: S. Galea Pace, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi, M. Paris, J. Spiteri Staines, S. Gravina 1, K. Grixti, N. Paris, A. Bianchi, P. Paris, L. Peric, K. Lanzon.

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 6, L. Gialanze 1, M. Stellini 1, T. Agius 1, S. Xerri de Caro 2, G. Mizzi, J. Camilleri 1, B. Lanzon 1, M. Zammit 1, B. Dougall, C. Mercieca.

Referees: M. Angileri, R. Spiteri.

Next fixtures

Saturday: Premier Division 18.30 San Ġiljan vs Valletta; 19.45 Sliema vs Exiles.

Sunday: Division One 09.00 Marsaxlokk vs Ta’ Xbiex; 10.15 Marsascala vs Otters. Premier Division 11.30 Neptunes vs Sirens.