San Ġiljan, Neptunes warm up to direct clash with comfortable victories

San Ġiljan and Neptunes registered comfortable victories before facing each other next Wednesday to end the crossover phase.

Neptunes chalked up their expected victory over Birzebbuga 12-5 in the second match on yesterday’s card.

After the Camilleri brothers, Steven (2) and Jordan, opened their teams’ accounts in the first session, Neptunes strolled to a 6-0 advantage that was reduced by one goal before the second session ended.

Birżebbuġa’s five goals, which included two great shots by David Cutajar, and a slight decrease in Neptunes’ scoring rate made the gap less yawning for Pierre Borg’s team.

San Ġiljan went on a scoring spree when they faced Marsascala and won easily with more than something to spare as the 15-6 scoreline indicates.

Although Marsascala kept it tight at the back, doubling on the centre whenever the ball was served in the hole, Darren Zammit started with a bang as he obtained a hat-trick before the end of the first eight minutes.

The scoreline started taking gaping proportions from the second session onwards as Dino Zammit scored four times to make it 10-3 at the half-way stage.

Marsascala were quickly cast aside as Arpad Babay’s team fell prey to St Julians’ fast breakaways. It was a matter of quick transfer of the ball upfield rather than a rapid shot on a cross-pass which did the trick for Dorian Pisani’s team.

San Ġiljan went into relaxing mode and with the issue resolved, Mark Carani reduced the arrears just before the end.

SAN ĠILJAN 15

MARSASCALA 6

(4-2, 6-1, 2-1, 3-2)

San Ġiljan

R. Coleiro, D. Zahra, A. Galea 2, D. Fero, R. Caruana, M. Zammit 2, B. Plumpton 1, J. Bonavia, D. Ciantar, Darren Zammit 3, K. Galea, Dino Zammit 5, G. Vassallo, M. Ortoleva 2.

Marsascala

J. Micallef, J.C. Cutajar, A. Camenzuli, P. Privitera, G. Sammut, L. Grixti, K. Navarro 1, M. Manara, S. Micallef 1, L. Felice, J. Ciantar 1, M. Carani 3, A. Muscat.

Refs: M. Angilleri, R. Spiteri.

NEPTUNES 11

BIRŻEBBUĠA                   6

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

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, J. Muscat 2, L. Calleja, G. Pace, M. Castillo, J. Spiteri Staines 1, S. Camilleri 4, J. Camilleri 2, J. Abela, M. Spiteri Staines 2, A. Fenech, S. Gialanze, A. Bugeja.

Birżebbuġa: M.Rossi, J. Farrugia, N. Cassar, D. Pace Lupi, C. Mifsud 1, P. Serracino, S. Vassallo, D. Cutajar 4, M. Bonnici, M. Borg, R. Spiteri, S. Fava, M. Sladden, G. Sammut 1.

Refs P. Balzan, S. Licari.