Neptunes V 16

San Giljan Z 12

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

Neptunes had to fight hard to beat a very resilient San Giljan side so as to pass a day comfortable in the driving seat, at the top of the standings, waiting for the proceedings in today’s big clash between Sirens and Sliema, where a loss will dent heavily on that particular’s sides chances for this year’s championship, although all is possible mathematically.

Neptunes opened different leads throughout the match but the Saints showed great character in reducing the margin on all occasions, except the last minutes. San Giljan ultimately suffered quite a setback when they finished the match with four starting players fouled out, namely Silvio Borg, Ian Azzopardi, Anthony Galea and even foreign import Marko Cuk.

The Balluta team had a good showing from bencher Matthew Pisani where his personal poker of goals helped in a great way in the eventual win. However, Neptunes’ top scorer was youngster Steve Camilleri with a nap hand, four scored in the first four minutes of the third session and the fifth being the final game of the game.

Dubravko Simenc gave a dream start to the leaders as he grabbed his only goal in the game after just 14 seconds of play. The Saints’ reply was immediate as John Xerri De Caro scored just 18 seconds later.

However Neptunes opened a 3-1 lead after 3 minutes of play following goals from centre Karl Galea and captain Niki Lanzon.

The game was level again after Claudio Spiteri de Barro scored a brace but Pisani helped the reds to a 4-3 lead at the end of the first session after a De Caro defensive blunder.

The start of the second session was all Neptunes as they went 6-3 in the lead with goals from Michele Stellini and Pisani after just 78 seconds. Although Cuk scored his first of the day shortly afterwards, John Brownrigg restored the reds 3-goal lead.

San Giljan did not throw in the towel and they managed to make a good comeback with three consecutive goals with Cuk and Matthew Zammit registering their second personal gaol respectively.

The teams changed ends 8-7 in Neptunes’ favour when centreman Galea won a physical battle with Borg and beat Schembri in the Saints’ goal.

Steve Camilleri ‘exploded’ when the game resumed after the break with two goals after 69 seconds with Pisani grabbing another in between as Neptunes moved to an 11-7 lead.

Another two Camilleri goals, after Zammit had converted a penalty on the opposite side, seemingly ascertained Neptunes’ victory with a 13-8 score line.

However Guzi Attard’s side had other thoughts as they decisively clawed back with consecutive goals from Cuk, Zammit, Silvio Borg and Kayne Lanzon for a tight 13-12 score seven minutes form the end with Neptunes having just messed two man-ups, one of them incredibly with two players excluded at the same time!

A low Pisani shot beat Schembri to increase neptunes’ morale once again and when Galea and Camilleri found open space and scored, the game was then over and the Neptunes’ supporters could celebrate this hard-earned victory.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 1, T. Agius, D. Simenc 1, E. Cachia, J. Brownrigg 1, S. Camilleri 5, L. Attard, D. Camilleri, K. Galea 3, A. Sammut, M. Stellini 1, M. Pisani 4.

San Giljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro 2, A. Galea, C. Bonello, I. Azzopardi, M. Zammit 4, M. Cuk 3, K. Schembri, G. Ghirxi, A. Borda, S. Borg 1, J. Xerri de Caro 1, K. Lanzon 1.

Referees: F. Brasiliano, I. Sciriha

Exiles RMF 16

Marsaxlokk FP 9

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

Exiles easily maintained their leadership in the second category when they beat quite a disappointing Marsaxlokk side with a seven goal margin.

Although the southerners opened the score through Keith Grima Scott, Exiles quickly put the game comfortably in their control with five consecutive goals until the end of the initial session with Dutchman Marco Booij already distinguishing himself with his great talent for this level of play and netting three of his seven goal tally in the game.

M’Xlokk (who had stand-in coach Nazareno Bugeja sent off late in the game) passed through their best patch in the first part of the second session when a Sergey Frolov (a nap-hand of goals in this encounter) brace and an Edwin Pisani goal put the score at 6-4.

However Exiles did not take long to start again increasing the margin between the two sides with John Paris registering his hat-trick and moving to a comfortable 14-7 lead 8 minutes from the game’s end.

Exiles: N. Imbroll, A. Borg Cole, M. Zarb, D. Pace Lupi 2, T. Sullivan 1, G. Desira Buttigieg, J. Paris 3, J. Cremona 1, J. Tabone, S. Gravina 1, M. Booij 7, A. Arrigo, M. Calleja 1.

Marsaxlokk: R. Bonnici, K. Grima Scott 2, R. Calleja 1, A. Farrugia, N. Kerr, C. Bugeja, E. Pisani 1, G. Lubrano, S. Frolov 5, F. Testa, D. Cassar, J. Vella, D. Debono.

Referees: A. Deraffaele, A. Farrugia

Today’s programme

5.30pm - Div II Otters-Marsascala; 6.45pm Div I Sliema-Sirens