The first seasonal derby between Neptunes and Sliema resulted in a win for the former so that now three teams are sharing the top spot in the table.

The game had a quiet start as both sides were very attentive to each other.

Midway through the game the score was tied at 3-3 after Sliema had opened the score and then Neptunes replied with a three-goal run but then losing Matthew Pisani who was sent off for remarks towards the officials.

Late in the second session, John Soler scored two of his four goals in the match to draw the score level.

With the score 5-4 for Neptunes, after a Sean Gravina man-up goal, Sliema had Clint Debono sent off, also for remarks, and goals from Steve Camilleri (a 3 v2 break off a Brownrigg assist) and a low-shot by Michele Stellini (the latter notching a personal hat-trick) made it 7-4 for the Reds.

Soler grabbed one back for Sliema but then the Blues messed a man-up and paid dearly as Karl Galea broke clear on the right and beat Cachia and then, late in the match, S. Camilleri made it a final four-goal victory.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon, J. Camilleri, K. Galea 2, T. Agius, J. Brownrigg, S. Camilleri 2, L. Attard, D. Camilleri, S. Gravina 1, R. Sciortino, M. Stellini 3, M. Pisani 1, G. Sammut, D. Caruana.

Sliema: J. Cachia, C. Gialanze, E. Aquilina, M. Rizzo, M. Meli, J. Soler 4, D. Paolella, J. Valletta 1, C. Debono, F. Cutajar, N. Lubrano, J. Gabaretta, A. Bianchi, J. Spiteri Staines, R. Coleiro.

Refs: M. Dalli, P. Balzan

Sirens ASC 13

San Giljan Zara 10

(3-1, 1-3, 5-4, 4-2)

This encounter resulted in a high scoring game which was very balanced even though the end result may indicate otherwise. It was only late in the game that Sirens made sure of the victory with captain Paul Privitera scoring a hat-trick in the last session.

It was 4-4 at the change of ends with Clint Mercieca and Matthew Zammit grabbing the scoring limelight on respective ends. In fact both of them finished with a personal poker of goals.

Sirens opened a two-goal lead in the third session but the Saints managed to crawl back and even take an 8-7 lead.

Sirens hit back with three consecutive goals and it was then a close 11-10 game five minutes from time after Lanzon’s hat-trick.

However the game went Sirens’ way when Privitera netted two late goals

Sirens: A. Grech, P. Fava 1, K. Rizzo Naudi, P. Privitera 3, J. Rizzo Naudi, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar 1, K. Montfort 2, C. Zammit 1, C. Mercieca 4, R. Attard, J. Sammut, T. Debono, R. Xerri.

San Giljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro, A. Galea 1, C. Bonello, M. Pace, M. Zammit 4, G. Toth 2, J. Bonnici, M. Miggiani, K. Schembri, S. Borg, J. Xerri de Caro, K. Lanzon 3.

Refs: A. Deraffaele, M. Caruana