The Winter League programme was resumed yesterday in spring-like conditions with Neptunes Emirates and Sirens Ritter Sport winning their openers against Exiles Ferretti and Valletta United respectively.
In the first match, Exiles finished well behind tails of the Balluta Bay team whose diamond-cutting edge on two fronts was provided by their seasoned scorers Niki Lanzon and Michele Stellini, with four and three goals each.
Both teams, especially Aurelien Cousin’s outfit, had several young faces in the water, with Neptunes, guided by Sergey Markoch from the bench, drafting their youngsters as they eased off to victory in the latter sessions.
It had been quite close in the opening quarters but eventually the Reds’ heavier armoury proved more than a handful for their generous opponents from across St Julian’s Bay.
Exiles had Simon Vassallo and Kurt Grixti fouled out by the middle sessions.
In the second match, Sirens were equally superior to a much-shorter Valletta outfit whose resistance did not go much beyond the first session.
The Northerners were well-served by livewire Alex Attard and the experienced David Cutajar, each scorers of a poker of goals.
Sirens pulled away midway through the second quarter, with Valletta, who paraded veteran Francesco Cutajar, were unable to maintain the scoring rhythm despite the efforts of four-goal Ryan Mock, a newcomer in the City team.
In the end, it was a deserved victory for Marco Risso’s team.
Neptunes 10
Exiles 4
(1-1, 3-2, 3-1, 3-0)
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 4, S. Xerri de Caro, M. Stellini 3, Z. Mizzi 1, G. Pace 1, K. Debattista, J. Camilleri, M. Lanzon, S. Gravina, B. Lanzon, T. Agius, C. Mercieca 1.
Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi, M. Magri, N. Portelli, J. Spiteri Staines, K. Grixti, M. Paris 1, P. Borg 2, N. Paris, D. Borg, K. Lanzon.
Referees: M. Angileri, R. Spiteri.
Sirens 14
Valletta 7
(2-1, 5-2, 4-3, 3-1)
Sirens: A. Grech, A. Attard 4, M. Caruana, P. Micallef 2, M. Grech, A. Sammut, J. Borg, D. Cutajar 4, A. Zarb Cousin 1, C. Zammit 2, S. Micallef, G. Merten, J. Cremona, A. Camenzuli 1, G. Debono.
Valletta: R. Sciortino, S. Meli, R. Calleja, R. Mock 4, F. Cutajar 2, S. Cachia, C. Scicluna, J.C. Farrugia, M. Cordina, R. Scerri 1, A. Arrigo.
Referees: A. De Raffaele, P. Giordano.
Next fixtures
Friday: 6.45pm Valletta vs Sliema; 8pm ASA Juniors vs San Ġiljan.