Another draw for Neptunes Emirates and the first point surrendered by Sliema McDonald's, as well as San Ġiljan's victory over Exiles Jet Services, put the seal on the fourth round of matches of this year's Winter League programme.
Neptunes were intent to prove that their wobbly start to the winter season was only temporarily as they locked horns with Sliema yesterday.
The Reds succeeded, but only up to a certain point given that their 4-0 kick-start was neutralised by the title-holders, and this mainly thanks to the four goals netted by Mark Meli.
Indeed, the Blues' comeback when winning the next three sessions after plunging to a 4-1 deficit in the first demonstrated their spirit. At the same time, Neptunes started losing their initial grip on the proceedings even if they still maintained a 6-3 advantage until midway through the third session.
Sliema's rally, however, was not to be denied as they closed the gap to 6-5 before the last quarter got underway.
In the last session, they soon equalised, after which two expul-sions at either end were not fruitful and the result was kept at par.
For Neptunes, the re-inclusion of their talisman Steve Camilleri later in the season, will surely make them more competitive. Sliema, on the other hand, will welcome back their upcoming player Jerome Gabaretta, currently following a course of studies abroad.
In the first match of the day, San Ġiljan needed a third-session blast to kill off any hopes Exiles might have had of salvaging some pride in a match which, however, provided them with a relative breather after their mauling at the hands of Sliema last weekend.
With over three minutes to go until the end of the third quarter, Exiles were still at it and battling hard as the 4-4 scoreline indicated. But a sudden burst of five goals before that session was over made for Joe Caruana Dingli's boys' capitulation.
After that it was plain sailing for Pierre Borg and his troops as their goals were shared by no fewer than seven of their units. At least, Exiles made the result look slightly more respectable when trimming their five-goal deficit to 10-7 just before the end.
Summaries
Sliema 6
Neptunes 6
(1-4, 2-1, 2-1, 1-0)
Sliema: R. Coleiro, M. Spiteri Staines, N. Lubrano, P. Privitera, M. Meli 4, J. Soler 1, D. Paolella 1, J. Brownrigg, C. Debono, J. Spiteri Staines, M. Rizzo, M. Cordina, A. Bianchi.
Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 2, T. Agius, M. Stellini 1, E. Cachia, E. Lanzon, J. Camilleri 1, K. Debattista, B. Buhagiar, S. Gravina 2, K. Micallef, M. Pisani.
Referees: M. Dalli, I. Sciriha.
San Ġiljan 10
Exiles 7
(2-2, 2-1, 5-1, 1-3)
San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro 2, M. Pace, K. Galea 1, C. Gialanze 1, M. Zammit 2, R. Scerri 1, A. Bianchi 2, E. Aquilina, A. Borda, P. Fava, K. Dowling 1, K. Schembri.
Exiles: A. Cachia, J. Rizzo Naudi, K. Rizzo Naudi 2, J. Fenech, T. Sullivan 2, M. Calleja 1, J. Paris, M. Paris 1, A. Zarb Cousin, S. Cini, A. Arrigo, D. Borg, K. Lanzon 1.
Referees: P. Balzan, R. Spiteri.