The low temperature and intermittent rain forced the players to go for the comfortably warm ambience of the heated water at the National Pool as winter champions Neptunes Grimaldi and Marsascala Nutrition Empire collected the points at the expense of Exiles Ferretti and Otters Nivea in their respective categories.
Although reduced to bare bones through the absence of the suspended Jordan Camilleri, the Reds’ crop of youngsters were good enough to dispose of Exiles in comfortable fashion.
In the previous match, holders Marsascala ran out easy winners when facing the Gozitan side, Otters, who tried their best to limit the deficit. The southerners were always in the driving seat, their eight-goal victory margin underlining the gap between the teams.
Otters 11
Marsascala 19
(3-4, 2-6, 4-4, 2-5)
Otters: R. Bonnici, M. Borg Millo 1, R. Greco 1, L. Hyzler 4, C. Theuma, D. Dimech, K Scicluna, G. Mizzi 3, M. Borg, G. Debono 1 C. Martin 1, M Scerri.
Marsascala: K. Schembri, J.C. Cutajar 4, J. Bajada 2, C. Bonello 3, C. Mifsud, L. Grixti 1, J. Busuttil, J. Cremona 1, S. Micallef 2, M. Pace 2, D. Cassar 2, O. Zammit 2, B. Dougall
Referees: R. Spiteri, R. Magri.
Neptunes 8
Exiles 3
(2-1, 1-0, 3-1, 2-1)
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 2, L. Calleja, M. Lanzon, T. Agius 1, S. Xerri de Caro 3, K. Navarro, L. Gialanze, J. Abela 1, M. Zammit, B. Lanzon, M. Azzopardi 1, J. Tanti
Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi, D. Borg Millo, L. Felice, S. Gravina, K. Grixti 1, N. Paris, M. Magri, G. Ciappara, L. Peric, K. Lanzon 2.
Referees: M. Dalli, M. Angileri.