Reigning champions Neptunes had a field day on Exiles, who were playing their first official match, in the first of many games in the preliminary round where one unfortunately expects some disparity between the top teams and those who usually play in the second division resulting in quite tedious and boring matches.

The reds opened up very strong where they literally scored in almost every offensive move and were 10-0 ahead after just eight minutes.

Steve Camilleri, who notched a nap-hand in this first session, opened the score after just 21 seconds as Neptunes clearly displayed their superior swimming ability and match practice.

The second session ended 1-1 as Exiles showed more mettle whilst the winners surely were at ease with such a big lead.

John Brownrigg put his side, who paraded Ivan Milakovic who will be their foreign import for the first round and then will be replaced by the much-acclaimed Serb Vujasinovic for the final part of the season, 11-0 ahead with an early man-up goal but Exiles finally scored their seasonal first through veteran and 2006 player of the year, John Paris, after almost 12 minutes of play.

However the third session was a replica of the first session as Neptunes totally dominated and scored nine goals without a reply starting with a David Camilleri netting off a Karl Galea assist and even the first goals in the match for Michele Stellini and Giorgio Sammut (off a Milakovic pass).

The only negative point shown in the match was the lack of sportsmanship shown when, with the score at 12-1, Exiles had Desira Buttigieg injured but Neptunes still continued with their attack.

The last session was a balanced affair with Exiles, who are expecting the arrival of Aurelien Cousin who plays for Nice and is also the French national team captain, managing to score 2 goals. Early in the third minute Paris grabbed his brace through a flick off an accurate Grixti pass exactly as they were starting a man-up.

Sean Gravina replied for Neptunes and shortly afterwards the foreign import Ivan Milakovic wasted a golden chance off a solitary break.

Martin Calleja beat young Sciortino for Exiles third goal. The game ended with goals by Matthew Pisani and Milakovic, the latter finally putting his name amongst the scorers’ list just 2 seconds from the end.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 3, G. Sammut 1, K. Galea 3, J. Brownrigg 1, I. Milakovic 1, S. Camilleri 7, L. Attard, D. Camilleri 2, S. Gravina 1, R. Sciortino, M. Stellini 3, M. Pisani 1.

Exiles: N. Imbroll, M. Grima, M. Zarb, D. Pace Lupi, S. Vassallo, G. Desira Buttigieg, J. Paris 2, J. Cremona, K. Grixti, S. Cini, A. Arrigo, M. Calleja 1, A. Borg Cole.

Refs : I. Sciriha, A. Deraffaele* * *

Sirens HRC 25

Otters ASC 4

(5-1, 7-1, 8-1, 5-1)

Sirens registered an easy win over Gozitan side Otters. The St Pauls Bay side, fresh from their Winter League success had Hungarian Zsolt Varga playing his first game and ending with a seven-goal personal tally.

Played under floodlights, at times very difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish players from the press box, the game got off to a quiet start with Karl Montfort putting Sirens in the lead late in the second minute.

Otters, who tried to limit the damage as much as possible with a possession game and not venturing much deep in Sirens’ defensive zone, managed to equalise two minutes later through a Stefan Grech 7 metre shot off a foul.

However Sirens were in a class of their own ann were 5-1 ahead by the end of the first session with left-handed Varga notching his first goal in Malta followed by a Charles Zammit hat-trick.

Matters did not change in the third session. This time Sirens scored eight to Otters solitary goal coming from S. Grech who beat young Joseph Sammut. Another youngster, Rainer Xerri also made effective use of his time in the water with three goals.

Late in the fourth session, sirens managed to have all the players on the scorers list when Julian Rizzo Naudi netted a penalty off a Zammit foul.

Sirens: A. Grech, E. Bonello 1, K. Rizzo Naudi 1, P. Privitera 1, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, R. Xerri 3, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar 2, K. Montfort 3, C. Zammit 3, C. Mercieca 2, Z. Varga 7, J. Sammut.

Otters: R. Grech, S. Dimech, G. Zammit, S. Grech 3, S. Cutajar, D. Saliba, P. Saliba 1, K. Mizzi, C. Marten, K. Scicluna, E. Farrugia, S. Xerri, C. Saliba.

Refs: R. Spiteri, M. Caruana.