Showing great resilience and a better appreciation of press tactics, coupled with opportunism on man-ups, San Ġiljan Giuseppe’s shocked champions Neptunes Emirates to win deservedly by the odd goal in 25 yesterday.

This match confirmed San Ġiljan’s potential after their recent victory over Sliema McDonald’s, with the team displaying collective qualities and exceptional power in the offensive phase where Bogdan Rath, Boris Letica and Karl Galea were the team’s chief goal-getters.

Neptunes had no excuses. They only have themselves to blame.

Erratic shooting and a 3-on-11 reading on man-ups, compared with their opponents’ 6-on-9, also accounted for their defeat.

San Ġiljan were off the mark in brisker fashion, taking a 4-2 first-session lead against faltering opponents. Their stringent press unsettled the Reds and this resulted in a 5-2 advantage before Neptunes pulled back two goals.

However, the Balluta Bay Reds were growing frantic and hurried in their conclusions, especially on man-ups. San Ġiljan were more composed and deservedly took an 8-5 lead at the end of the second quarter.

Letica had been hanging on two early fouls but was still in the water with Shaun Gravina and Jordan Camilleri, each on two personal faults, as the Reds continued to show too much urgency.

Notwithstanding, they pulled back on 8-7 before levelling on 9-all only for Jordan Camilleri and Tamas Molnar (red card) to be expelled in the third session. Neptunes fought back to take an 11-10 lead with five minutes still to go but the Saints were still showing surprising resilience and three goals in their favour, two from Rath and the other from Letica, made it 13-11 before Gravina reduced the arrears 80 seconds from time.

The Saints remained unruffled to administer their lead admirably.

In the first match of the evening at the National Pool yesterday, Hungarian David Zoltan spear-headed Valletta Sterling’s 20-15 high-scoring victory over Division One rivals Ta’ Xbiex Amigos with eight goals, followed by the ever-improving Timmy Agius who netted four times.

Valletta, with substitute keeper Edward Arrigo in goal, kept on the heels of their opponents in the first quarter which twice saw them trailing by two goals before they finally made leeway to equalise on four-goals apiece.

Ta’ Xbiex were more alert in the second quarter which they won 4-3 to open an 8-7 lead before ends were changed.

Valletta recovered to lead 14-11 in the third session followed by a 6-4 score in their favour in the last session to end up clear winners.

Summaries

San Ġiljan 13
Neptunes 12
(4-2, 4-3, 2-4, 3-3)

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, J.C. Cutajar, D. Abela, K. Galea 3, K. Dowling, M. Zammit 1, B. Letica 3, A. Bianchi 1, R. Mock, C. Gialanze, P. Fava, B. Rath 3, M. Pisani 2.

Neptunes: I. Bugeja, N. Lanzon 3, E. Aquilina, M. Stellini 1, G. Pace, A. Ciric, S. Camilleri 5, J. Camilleri, B. Lanzon, S. Gravina 1, R. Sciortino, T. Molnar 2, C. Mercieca.

Refs: M. Angilleri, S. Scappini.

Ta’ Xbiex 15
Valletta 20
(4-4, 4-3, 3-7, 4-6)

Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, J. Cremona, A. Galea 1, M. Asciak, L. Suranyi 5, C. Bugeja 1, K. Galea, S. Cini, C. Saliba, R. Attard 1, O. Zammit 3, Y. Szeles 4.

Valletta: A. Sammut, S. Meli 1, R. Calleja 1, A. Galea, T. Agius 4, S. Cachia 3, R. Kovac 1, J.C. Farrugia, M. Cordina 2, D. Zoltan 8, A. Arrigo, E. Arrigo, K. Hyzler.

Refs: A. De Raffaele, S. Licari.

Next fixtures

Tuesday: Division One 6 p.m. Ta’ Xbiex Amigos vs Marsascala Mor€. Premier Division 7.15 p.m. Exiles Ferretti vs San Giljan Giuseppe’s.
Wednesday: Division One 6 p.m. Valletta Sterling vs Otters Nivea. Premier Division 7.15 p.m. Neptunes Emirates vs Sliema McDonald’s.

Standings

Premier Division

Division One