Neptunes Emirates 9

3CX Exiles 5

(3-0)(3-3)(1-0)(2-2)

It was a low score match, and despite their defeat, Exiles must be well satisfied with their performance, in holding more quoted opponents to a low score margin. Neptunes built up a three goal advantage, after the opening session, and this affected the rest of the encounter, with Neptunes quite happy to contain nippy opponents, after adding on two more goals, and also missing a penalty in the process, with Alan Borg Cole saving brilliantly off Tamas Molnar. Exiles came right into the picture until the half time buzzer, to 3-6 behind.

There was only a single goal after the break, coming in the session’s last two seconds, as Neptunes increased their lead. The last quarter was shared by the two teams, with a brace of goals each, leaving Neptunes with enough of an advantage to administer the match.

Neptunes had Bryan Buhagiar back in the side, instead of Gabriel Pace. Exiles still had Karl Rizzo Naudi injured, and Andrew Zarb Cousin was also missing, their places taken by Philip Paris and Nicholas Portelli.

Man ups did not help the cause of either side, with Neptunes scoring their first three, but missed their next four. Exiles also netted three. But out of a total of ten favourable expulsions.

As usual, Neptunes relied on their tandem, Tamas Molnar and Steve Camilleri, who shared seven goals, and Exiles had Timmy Sullivan and Marko Cuk with a brace of goals each.

This was the 19th time that Neptunes have won this honour.

After the match the presentation was made by the BOV Manager Marketing, Charles Azzopardi, to the Neptunes captain, Nicky Lanzon, his second in the space of a week, after the President’s Cup victory.

Neptunes: I. Bugeja, N. Lanzon, E. Aquilina, M. Stellini 1 , J. Camilleri , Z Mizzi , S. Camilleri 3 , V. Gojkovic 1 , B. Buhagiar , S. Gravina, R. Sciortino, T. Molnar 4, M. Pisani

Exiles: A Borg Cole, J Rizzo Naudi, P. Paris, D. Pace Lupi, T. Sullivan 2, M. Calleja, M. Cuk 2, K. Griscti, N. Portelli, A. Cousin 1, J. Paris, A. Sciberras, K. Lanzon

Refeees: M. Angileri, P. Bensaia