Neptunes V 13

Sirens HR Cafe 8

(3-0, 3-3, 5-1, 2-4)

Neptunes secured their second winter league win after they overcame, quite convincigly, Sirens’ challenge.

Neptunes got off to a good start as they were 3-0 ahead after the first session. Karl Galea notched his first two goals (the initial one off a close range flick on a Galea man-up) of four in the match by the third minute and then Nicky Lanzon made it 3-0 on a Borg exclusion.

Sirens’ best patch came early in the second session when they managed to momentarily reduce the margin to a solitary goal.

David Cutajar scored an early goal with a diagonal shot but this was duly replied through a powerful Michele Stellini bounce shot.

Sirens had the upper hand at this moment and Clint Merciea and Cutajar (on a 4v3 break) made it a one-goal game at 4-3.

However Neptunes’ initial 3-goal lead at the start of the session was restored by the second session’s end when a respective Galea and Borg man-up were converted into goals by Neptunes, both netted by Galea.

The summer champions’ win was ascertained in the third session when the reds clearly took control and netted five goals against a solitary goal from their opponents so as to find themselves 11-4 ahead with eight minutes to go.

Neptunes: Nicky Gouder, Nicky Lanzon 4, Timothy Agius, Karl Galea 4, Edward Cachia, Kust Micallef, Jordan Camilleri, Rambert Attard, David Camilleri, Sean Gravina 1, John Paris, Michele Stellini 3, Matthew Pisani 1, David Caruana, Adrian Cachia.

Sirens: Alan Grech, Tyson Debono, Tony Galea, Paul Privitera 1, Peter Borg, Ryan Mock, Jurgen Borg, David Cutajar 3, Alex Attard, Ranier Scerri, Clint Mercieca 4, Reinhard Attard, Joseph Sammut, Paul Micallef, Edward Bonello.

Refs: Massimo Angileri, Alex De Raffaele

Sliema McDonalds 14

Exiles Pender Gardens 6

(4-2, 4-3, 3-1, 3-0)

The Tower Road derby ended in a comfortable win for Sliema so that the latter, similar to Neptunes, registered their second win in this winter league.

Exiles managed to share some of the spoils early on in the game but Sliema gradually took the upper had as the minutes starting ticking by.

Karl Rizzo Naudi and David Pace Lupi replied to two marginal early leads by Sliema after goals from youngster Jerome Gabaretta followed by seasoned player Clint Debono.

Edward Aquilina (who scored a poker) and Jonathan Valletta (who notched a brace similar to Gabaretta and Debono) made it 4-2 at the end of the first session.

The second session was a somewhat tight affair, score-wise, although Sliema managed to extend their lead slightly to 6-5 at the change of ends.

Brothers Julian and Karl Rizzo Naudi shared three goals (including two penalties) for Exiles whilst John Soler netted two goals (one from a 5 metre free shot) and Daniel Paolella added another for Sliema.

The latter two sessions were in the blues’ favour as they extended further their lead with Exiles managing just to net a single goal late in the third session with K. Rizzo Naudi’s hat-trick.

Sliema: Josie Cachia, Christian Gialanze, Edward Aquilina 4, Jerome Gabaretta 2, Mark Meli, John Soler 3, Daniel Paolella 1, Clint Debono 2, Jonathan Valletta 2, James Spiteri Staines, Nicholai Lubrano, Ryan Coleiro.

Exiles: Rueben Bonnici, Simon Vassallo, Karl Rizzo Naudi 3, David Pace Lupi 1, Timmy Sullivan, Julian Rizzo Naudi 2, Andrew Zarb Cousin, Kurt Grixti, Mark Galea, Karl Enriquez, Seb Cini, Gabriel Galea, Martin Calleja, Alan Borg Cole, Giuseppe Desira Buttigieg.

Refs: Peter Balzan, Miro