Neptunes pulled the strings from the outset to end up worthy winners against Exiles by three clear goals on Saturday.
The match turned out to be a one-sided contest early on, with the Reds decisively on song in the second session.
It had the imprint of six-goal Jordan Camilleri, some power play up front along with fine teamwork from the Reds.
Neptunes started well, taking a 3-1 first session lead with Niki Lanzon and Miguel Zammit exploiting the right flank to good effect.
The Balluta Bay side produced some exhilarating fare in the second session with Jeremy Abela and Jordan Camilleri running circles around the Exiles rearguard.
Slobodan Nikic netted a grand goal on a back hand in a bid to lift his Exiles’ spirits. But Neptunes had other ideas as they netted seven goals for a 10-4 lead before the change of ends.
With the result a foregone conlusion a couple of fringe Neptunes players were put into the fray in the last two sessions.
Exiles tried to recover lost ground with Timmy Sullivan increasing his tally to four goals. But Neptunes were able to limit the damage with Jordan Camilleri reaching six goals.
In the final match of the day, a resilient Sirens refused to buckle against the more-quoted San Ġiljan. It was tight all the way with first one side and then the other nosing ahead.
Midway in the third quarter, Matthew Zammit and Andreas Galea tilted the balance in San Ġiljan’s favour when giving their team a 6-4 lead.
The Saints pulled away in the final session with Paulo Obradovic hitting a hat-trick to clinch his side’s 45thconsecutive win.
In the lower division, Marsascala Transcripta edged 11-10 past a competitive Ta Xbiex.
In fact, Joe Caruana Dingli’s men matched their opponents all the way, with the lead alternating almost throughout.
However, they stopped short of salvaging at least a point. As it turned out, Pierre Borg’s side resolved the match in their favour in the third session with Andrija Vlahovic earning is team’s plaudits with his three decisive goals.
TA XBIEX AMIGOS 10
MARSASCALA TRANSCRIPTA 11
(2-2, 2-2, 2-5, 4-2)
Ta’ Xbiex: M. Vassallo, R. Grech, M. Manara 1, L. Hyzler 1, Z. Galea Mule, B. Cachia, G. Blundell, N. Dedovic 3, L. Galea, G. Sammut 2, K. Tanti 2, N. Saliba 1, L. Pace.
Marsascala: J. Micallef, J C. Cutajar 1, E. Carabott, D. Borg Millo, A.Vlahovic 4, L. Grixt 2, K. Navarro, J. Busuttil J. Bajada 2, C. Mifsud 2, D. Cassar, R. Attard, B. Muscat.
Referees: Mario Dalli, Luca Castagnola.
NEPTUNES LEO VEGAS 16
EXILES ELIA CATERERS 13
(3-1, 7-3, 4-5, 2-4)
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 2, K. Erdogan, G. Pace 1, M. Martellacci, N. Zammit 1, P. Muslim 2, J. Camilleri 6, J. Abela 3, M. Zammit 1, J. Muscat, M. Azzopardi, J. Parnis.
EXILES: M. Castillo, M. Fenech 2, A. Bianchi, M. Stellini 2, T. Sullivan 4, S. Xerri de Caro, S. Nikic 2, K. Griscti, N. Paris 1, A. Cousin 2, B. Lanzon, P. Paris, G. Ciappara.
Referee: Alex deRaffaele, Andrea Barretta.
SAN ĠILJAN TUM INVEST 10
SIRENS GREENTUBE 6
(1-2, 3-2, 2-0, 4-2)
San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, P. Borg 1, A. Galea 3, B. Grech, C. Farrugia, M. Zammit 1, B. Plumpton, Darren Zammit, T. Said, P. Obradovic 3, P. Fava, Dino Zammit 2, T. Micallef.
Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Bartolo, E. Aquilina, N. Bicari 4, M. Grech, I. Riolo 1, C. Mercieca, J. Sciberras, J. Napier, J. Ciantar, L. Caruana, J. Brownrigg 1, O. Gauci.
Referee: Peter Balzan, Luca Castagnola.