Leaders Neptunes Vodafone gave it their best shot in the first three sessions before easing off to victory against Sirens Centro Casalinga in the first match of yesterday morning's programme.
With most of their best units in the water, the Reds were distinctly superior to Sirens when building a commanding lead, especially after the ends were changed. They closed the third session 9-2 ahead.
By then Sirens, without their captain Paul Privitera, had thrown in the towel, only to bring down the deficit in the last quarter when netting four goals against opponents whose coach John Paris opted for wholesale changes.
After their defeat at the hands of the ASA youths last Saturday, San Ġiljan, led by new coach Karl Izzo, returned to winning ways when they beat Marsascala 7-4.
The Saints, spearheaded by four-goal Claudio Spiteri De Barro, pulled away from their opponents when netting three times in the third quarter.
It had been evenly-balanced until the second session with the southseasiders responding each time San Ġiljan nosed ahead. But there was no reply from them in the latter part of the game as the Saints, this time with a full squad, sealed the issue.
In the last match of the day, the ASA U-20's positive run was halted after they were beaten by the improving Exiles in a match which had the team mentored by Joe Caruana Dingli increasingly driving home their superiority.
The youngsters were outsmarted after the opening quarter which they led 1-0. Karl Rizzo Naudi, David Pace Lupi and Timmy Sullivan each hit a hat-trick as the ASA selection ended in tatters, with coach Sergio Afric red-carded in the third session after showing dissent for a harshly awarded penalty against his team.
Neptunes 9
Sirens 6
(3-1, 2-1, 4-0, 0-4)
Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 1, T. Agius, K. Galea 3, E. Cachia 2, D. Caruana, J. Camilleri 1, B. Giorgio, R. Attard, S. Gravina, R. Sciortino, M. Stellini 2, M. Pisani, G. Pace.
Sirens: A. Grech, L. Caruana, A. Galea, S. Aquilina, A. Sammut, R. Mock 1, J. Borg 2, D. Cutajar, O. Zammit, C. Zammit 2, C. Mercieca 1, D. Zammit, J. Sammut.
Referees: I. Sciriha, P. Balzan.
Marsascala 4
San Ġiljan 7
(2-2, 1-1, 0-3, 1-1)
Marsascala: I. Bugeja, P. Borg 1, M. Borg, K. Sciortino, G. Ghirxi, L. Griscti, J. Licari, A. Dalli, S. Micallef, R. Cutajar 2, D. Cassar 1, M. Spiteri.
San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, E. Arrigo, C. Gialanze, C. Bugeja 1, M. Borg Spiteri, A. Bianchi 2, C. Spiteri De Barro 4, P. Micallef, M. Pace, A. Borda, P. Fava, K. Schembri, K. Lanzon.
Referees: M. Dalli, A. DeRaffaele.
Exiles 11
ASA U-20 6
(0-1, 4-1, 4-2, 3-2)
Exiles: A. Cachia, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, K. Rizzo Naudi 3, D. Pace Lupi 3, T. Sullivan 3, K. Dowling, S. Vassallo, A. Zarb Cousin, K. Enriquez, A. Arrigo, M. Calleja 1.
ASA U-20: A. Borg Cole, M. Spiteri Staines, T. Agius, R. Mock 3, P. Borg 2, J. Camilleri, K. Griscti, N. Lubrano, S. Cini, M. Pace 1.
Referees: R. Spiteri, S. Licari.