Neptunes Grimaldi 7 Sliema Frank Salt 6
(3-0, 2-1, 1-2, 1-3)
If Neptunes had any points taken off them in this match, it would have been entirely their fault. They went in at the interval on a good advantage, but it could have been so much better if they had taken all their chances against an inept Sliema side, who were nowhere in the match till the interval. The game changed after the break, when the Blues started their long way back, and they nearly managed to scupper Neptunes' intentions of all three points. As it happened, Neptues held on are closed in on leaders San Giljan ahead of Satrday's top of the table clash.
It was all Neptunes at the start, as they eased past the Sliema defence, converting two man ups and scoring a Steve Camilleri penalty. Sliema fluffed their two man ups, late in the session. In the next period, both sides failed in two more man ups each, but the champions increased their advantage with two more strikes, before Sliema finally hit back with a Michael Bodegas goal on a further man up. At the interval Neptunes were sitting pretty. on a 5-1 lead.
After the break the game began to turn. Sliema pulled two goals back, besides missing two more man ups. Neptunes also failed their couple of man ups, before Ivan Krapic hooked in in a further man up for a 6-3 score, which stayed on till the end of the session.
Sliema converted their second man up, from a total of ten in the match, but the champions again went three goals to the good as Steve Camilleri grabbed his hat trick. The Blues ended the match in a flurry, as they scored twice more, with Bodegas also getting three goals for Sliema. There was still time left, and Sliema had another stab at levelling the score, but a wayward pass gave the ball away, and Neptunes could play out the remaining seconds to record their third victory over the Blues, from five encounters, with the other matches ending in a league tie and a Sliema win, which gave them the President's Cup, on the first day of the summer season.
Next Saturday's crucial match will see the Saints starting two points in front of Neptunes, although both sides will be meeting each other later on.
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon , L. Calleja , M. Stellini , T. Agius ,I. Krapic 2, S. Camilleri 3, J. Camilleri , M. Castillo , P. Biros 2,B. Lanzon , S. Xerri de Caro , C. Mercieca
Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 1, K. Dowling , T. Sullivan , M. Meli ,J. Soler , M. Spiteri Staines , N. Bugelli , J. Brownrigg , M. Bodegas 3,A. Attard 1, N. Dedovic , M. Fenech 1
Referees: M. Angileri, D. Bianco
Relegation Pool
Valletta come from behind, to take all three points
Valletta McDonalds 11 Exiles Ferretti 10
(2-4. 2-1, 1-2, 6-3)
Valletta managed to overcome Exiles, to leave them floundering at the foot of the table. The Citizens had to trail for the best part of the match, and it was only a strong start to the last session that enabled them to overcome their opponents. Exiles recalled their second goalie, David abela, whilst Valletta put in their second keeper, Dean Camilleri, vice the regular, Ryan Sciortino, in the last period.
Exiles began well enough as their skipper, Kayne Lanzon drove in three goals to help his side into a 4-32 advantage. Andrea Bianchi scored his second goal, as Exiles extended their lead, but the Citizens rallied back, and two strikes took them to within a goal of their adversaries, to a 5-4 score, at the interval.
Exiles' two foreigners, Marco Cuk and Romain Blary, scored on either side of Ryan Mock's goal for Valletta, and Exiles went into the last quarter on a 7-5 advantage. The Citizens finally broke through, as they made up a four goal spurt, with Exiles' Bianchi being shown the red card.
Cuk pulled a goal back for Exiles, but Gergely Kiss again had Valleta two goals ahead. Exiles stuck to their task, and the two foreigners again showed their worth, as exiles tied the score, at 10-10. The last laugh went to valletta, with Karl Galea finishing off on a rebound, for the winning goal. Exiles failed in their next attempts, and Valletta edged away from their opponents in the league table.
There were three players on hat tricks in the match, with Djorde Filipovic for the Citizens, and Marco Cuk and Kayne Lanzon for Exiles.
Valletta: R. Sciortino, O. Zammit, M. Rizzo 1, K. Galea 2, A. Agius , R. Mock 1,G. Kiss2 , N. Bonello Ghio , M. Cordina , C. Zammit 1, D. Paolella 1,D. Filipovic 3, D. Camilleri
Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi , S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi , R. Blary 2, J. Spiteri Staines , S. Gravina , K. Grixti , D. Abela , A. Bianchi 2,M. Cuk 3, P. Paris , K. Lanzon 3
Referees: M. Dalli, G. Nicolosi
Championship Pool
San Giljan Crystal Finance 30
Neptunes Grimaldi 28
Sliema Frank Salt 14 (+1)
Relegation Pool
Sirens Ritter Sport 16
Valletta McDonalds 9
Exiles Ferretti 3 (+1)