Neptunes Vodafone 8
Sirens 2X 7
(1-2 3-3 2-2 2-0)
Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 1, S. Camilleri 2, K. Galea, E. Cachia 2, J. Brownrigg, M. Stellini 1, L. Attard, D. Camilleri, M. Azzopardi, D. Camilleri, S. Gravina, M. Pisani 2.
Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, A. Grech, J. Rizzo Naudi, K. Rizzo Naudi, C. Cauchi, J. Valletta 2, J. Borg, D. Cutajar 1, K. Montfort 1, C. Zammit, C. Mercieca 2, T. Debono, N. Cassar 1.
Refs: P. Balzan, A. de Raffaele.
An exciting match saw Neptunes prevail at the end as Sirens, who led for the major part of the game, suffered their first league defeat, leaving the pool empty-handed.
Despite the great disparity in expulsions, which greatly favoured Neptunes, these were not the determining factor as Neptunes only converted three occasions out of 12. Sirens had a paltry three man-ups, scoring only once.
For the first part of the match, it was a case of Sirens forging ahead and Neptunes pulling back. Helped by two penalty decisions, Sirens were leading 5-4 at the interval and in the third session, they managed to take a double lead.
This served as a call for Neptunes to back up their play and they managed to draw level only for Jonathan Valletta to restore Sirens’ lead, going into the final quarter.
Neptunes made it 7-7 with a Michele Stellini humdinger and then Steve Camilleri gave them the lead for the first time.
It proved enough as Sirens found Neptunes’ press stifling. They lost important possessions at the end, more intent on protesting the officials’ decisions.
Neptunes kept control till the end, to bounce back from their defeat against the champions.
Exiles RMF 8
San Giljan F. Clark 8
(1-4 4-2 1-1 2-2)
A nail-biting finish saw San Giljan saving a point after leading for practically the whole match.
Exiles: J. Cuschieri, M. Grima 2, M. Zarb, A. Borg Cole, T. Sullivan 2, K. Camilleri, G. Desira Buttigieg, J. Cremona 1, J. Tabone, M. Calleja 2, A. Arrigo, J. Vella, W. Privitera.
San Giljan: J. Spiteri, K. Lanzon 2, K. D’Ugo, C. Bonello, G. Ghirxi, M. Sammut 2, I. Azzopardi 1, M. Pace, G. Farrugia 1, A. Borda, S. Borg 2, K. Schembri, K. Grima Scott.
Refs: M. Dalli, M. Caruana.
M’Xlokk Freeport 2
Valletta Fortina 7
(1-2 0-2 0-1 1-2)
Valletta gained their first points of the season against a lacklustre Marsaxlokk side deprived of ideas and missing four of their five man-ups.
M’Xlokk: R. Bonnici, S. Cachia 1, R. Calleja, A. Farrugia, N. Kerr, C. Bugeja 1, C. Jones, S. Cutajar, K. Incorvaja, M. Rizzo, D. Cassar, M. Cutajar, G. Zammit.
Valletta: E. Arrigo, R. D’Amato, M. Camilleri, Marco Camilleri, D. Degiorgio, D. Saliba, A. Galea, J. Farrugia 1, D. Shaw 1, C. Saliba, P. Bonnici, M. Zammit 5, E. Pisani.
Refs: P. Balzan, A. de Raffaele.