NEPTUNES LEO VEGAS.................. 16
EXILES ELIA CATERERS.................. 10
(5-2), (5-4), (3-0), (3-4)
Champions Neptunes Leo Vegas continued their recent positive form as the win was practically never in doubt. Exiles couldn't do much better than they did against a better opponent and showed glimpses of progress in this match they might serve them for future games.
Petar Muslim scored a first-time goal to put Neptunes in the lead but from the subsequent action Marko Jelaca equalised. Michele Stellini's goal pulled on back for Exiles until two goals in the last minute by Darko Brguljan and Jordan Camilleri gave Neptunes a good 5-2.
Midway through the second session, Neptunes were 8-3 in the lead but a bold reaction by Exiles resulted in a brace by Stellini and another goal by Jelaca in two minutes to cut the gap to 8-6. Neptunes again reacted in their natural way and scored again twice in the last minute to finish the second session 10-6.
These goals paved the way for Neptunes to win the game as Exiles failed to convert two man-ups, facing also Alan Borg Cole who was splendid on the day. Nikolai Zammit assured the win with two goals in the last minute and a half of the session as Neptunes didn't concede a goal in this session to start the last one 13-6 ahead.
Exiles took the opportunity from a more rotated Neptunes squad and won the last session to finish the match 16-10 with four goals coming from Michele Stellini, Timmy Sullivan, Mark Fenech and a penalty by Milos Vukicevic.
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon, K. Erdogan (1), G. Pace, P. Muslim (3), D. Brguljan (2), S. Camilleri (3), J. Camilleri (3), J. Abela (1), N. Zammit (2), J. Muscat (1), M. Azzopardi, B. Busuttil, S. Busuttil, S. Stellini
Exiles: M. Castillo, M. Stellini (4), A. Magri, M. Jelaca (2), T. Sullivan (1), S. Xerri de Caro, M. Fenech (1), K. Griscti, M. Vukicevic (2), A. Cousin, N. Paris, P. Paris, M. Martin, S. Apap, C. von Brockdorf
Referees: Ronnie Spiteri, Giovanni Lo Dico
MARSASKALA FISH AND FISH........ 17
OTTERS NIVEA.............................. 11
(5-3), (4-2), (3-2), (5-4)
A bright start to the game helped Marsaskala Fish and Fish to claim their third win of the league. They are at the moment in second place above Valletta but the latter have two games in hand. Otters tried to react after the break but they committed easy mistakes and permitted Marsaskala to stretch their lead.
Marsaskala built a three-goal advantage in the first session after Jean Claude Cutajar scored two of the four goals. On the other hand Dominique Zahra scored two out of three goals by Otters as Marsaskala held a 5-3 advantage.
A brace each by Konstantin Averka and Kristijan Milakovic gave Marsaskala and 9-4 lead while Edward Meli reduced the margin before the end of the second half. Otters entered back in the game in the beginning of the third session with two consecutive goals by Benji Lanzon u Dominique Zahra and as things stood they looked to stand a chance.
But some mistakes in their passing and poor defending led to Marsaskala killing the game after a hat-trick by Kristijan Milakovic for a 12-7 scoreline. The gap was too big for Otters to recover from as Marsaskala controlled the last session.
Marsaskala: J. Micallef, J.C. Cutajar (2), A. Camenzuli, M. Manara, M. Aquilina (2), L. Grixti (1), K. Navarro, K. Milakovic (6), K. Averka (5), J. Culic, R. Attard, D. Borg Millo, M. Borg, L. Felice, J. Ciantar (1)
Otters: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri Debarro, F. Salamon (2), L. Hyzler, E. Meli (1), M. Lanzon, G. Mizzi, D. Dimech, A. Mifsud, D. Zahra (4), B. Lanzon (1), M. Filipovic (3), M. Xerri
Referees: Mario Dalli, Tommaso Boccia