Neptunes and San Ġiljan scored easy victories over Marsaskala and Birzebbuga respectively in Saturday’s two Premier League matches.
Neptunes registered their 11th successive victory, this time at the expense of Birzebbuga in a match that had the Reds making a flying start to go 4-1 ahead in the first session and extend that advantage to 6-1 before the change of ends.
Steven Camilleri, who eventually slotted in five goals, and Jeremy Abela, scorer of a hat-trick, provided Neptunes with that comfortable early cushion.
From then on, the Reds easily administered their lead and although coach Jovan Popovic effected several changes in the final sessions, they still enjoyed the edge.
Birzebbuga fought bravely in the last two sessions to stem this adversity also take advantage of the Balluta bay team’s casual mode.
However, late conversions by Jake Muscat, Sam Gialanze, Abela, and Ryan Galea put the issue beyond Pierre Borg’s side.
In the second match, spearheaded once again by goal-machine Dino Zammit, who netted a total of four goals, San Ġiljan made short work of Marsaskala in a high-scoring match which had a lasting turning point in the second session when San Giljan built a five-goal advantage.
A relatively slow start by San Ġiljan saw them keep their noses in front 4-2. But a minute before the end of the second session, the team guided by Dorian Pisani managed to pull clear of their opponents as the sides changed ends with San Ġiljan 7-3 ahead.
Marsaskala had done well until the opening session but the gap between the team was too much for the South Seasiders to contend with.
The rot for them started in the second session and from then on, they were submerged. It was now one-way traffic as the Saints increased their advantage with a further three goals.
The last session was only a formality with Pisani seeing his team ease off against opponents who had long thrown in the towel.
The preceding match resulted in an easy win for First Division contenders Sirens, with Jerome Zerafa Gregory picking his spot five times in his side’s 22-2 win.
SIRENS 22
OTTERS 2
(7-1, 6-0, 2-1, 7-0)
Sirens: G. Galea Curmi, M. Grech 1, K. Erdogan 1, J. Sciberras 2, J. Zerafa Gregory 5, G. Farrugia 3, M. Sciberras 2, I. Riolo 3, J. Napier 2, L. Falzon, L. Caruana 2, M. Azzopardi 1.
Otters: M. Xerri, M. Lanzon, M. Farrugia, L. Hyzler, E. Meli, L. Gialanze 1, K. Scicluna, G. Mizzi, D. Dimech, C. Zammit, Z. Bartolo, O. Zammit 1, D. Spiteri.
Referees: R. Spiteri, M. Sponza
SAN GILJAN 15
MARSASKALA 6
(4-2, 3-1, 3-0, 5-3)
San Ġiljan: R. Coleiro, D. Zahra 1, A. Galea 2, D. Fero, R. Caruana, M. Zammit, B. Plumpton 3, J. Bonavia 3, D. Ciantar 1, Darren Zammit, K. Galea 1, Dino Zammit 4, G. Vassallo.
M’Skala: J. Micallef, JC Cutajar 1, A.Camenzuli, P. Privitera 1, G.Sammut 1, D. Camilleri, G. Galea 1, M. Manara, S. Micallef, L. Felice 1, J. Ciantar, M. Carani 1, A. Muscat.
Referees: A. DeRaffaele, F. Brasiliano
NEPTUNES 17
BIRZEBBUGA 5
(4-1, 2-0, 5-2, 6-2)
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, J. Muscat 1, M. Farrugia, G. Pace 2, M. Castillo, J. Spiteri Staines 1, S. Camilleri 5, J. Camilleri 2, J. Abela 3, M. Spiteri Staines, A. Fenech, S. Gialanze 2, A. Bugeja, R. Galea 1.
Birzebbuga: M. Rossi, J. Farrugia 1, N. Cassar, D. Pace Lupi, D. Incorvaja, P. Serracino, S.Vassallo 1, M. Curmi, M. Bonnici 1, M. Borg, M. Cassar, S. Fava 1, L. Abela, G. Sammut 1.
Referees S.Licari, M. Sponza.
