Neptunes won the summer season’s curtain-raiser, the President’s Cup, with a commanding display that spoiled the prodigy son’s debut with San Ġiljan.
Jake Muscat endured a quiet return to the local game after an absence of a year, as Neptunes proved there is life after Muscat with an emphatic performance led by a splendid Steve Camilleri.
San Ġiljan took advantage of the first man-up situation of the match to go 1-0 ahead through Darren Zammit.
Jake Bajada replied immediately for Neptunes. The Reds squandered their first man-up opportunity but overturned the score through new foreign signing Marco Zuvela.
San Ġiljan remained clinical on the extra-man, making it two goals from two opportunities through Matthew Zammit.
However, Sam Gialanze kept Neptunes ahead before Alec Fenech beat the buzzer to restore parity.
San Ġiljan failed to convert their third man-up situation and Bajada, who was in fine form, edged Neptunes ahead once more at 4-3.
Steve Camilleri then increased the lead with a penalty before striking again as the Reds started to take control, opening up a 6-3 advantage.
Neptunes closed shop at the back and denied San Giljan on another man-up situation before Camilleri completed his hat-trick and Mark Castillo stretched the lead to 8-3.
Jake Muscat finally got on the scoresheet against his former side as San Ġiljan converted their third goal from five man-up situations.
Luigi Mallia then produced a superb diagonal effort that bounced off the water and into the net to restore Neptunes’ five-goal cushion.
Mallia struck again soon after as Neptunes’ advantage began to take gigantic proportions. Russell Caruana continued to fight for San Ġiljan, but Neptunes were not to be denied and Jordan Camilleri scored the Reds’ 11th goal while there was still time left in the second session.
Caruana converted San Giljan’s fourth man-up opportunity from six attempts as the teams changed ends with Neptunes firmly in command at 11-6.
San Ġiljan tried to react after the break but repeatedly found a well-organised Neptunes rearguard standing in their way.
When Sam Gialanze beat Jake Tanti with a delightful lob, the lead stretched to six goals. Steve Camilleri then rose out of the water to unleash a powerful shot beyond Tanti as San Giljan failed to find the net throughout the third session.
Camilleri made it 14-6 at the start of the fourth quarter. Alec Fenech grabbed his second goal of the evening for San Giljan, but Camilleri wanted the final say on the match, netting his sixth goal of a memorable performance.
Zammit converted San Giljan’s fifth goal from eight man-up situations, while Matthew Castillo produced a fine save to deny Muscat in a one-on-one situation.
Luigi Dimech completed the scoring for a final 15-10 scoreline as Neptunes lowered the colours of San Giljan in emphatic fashion, lifting the President’s Cup and spoiling the prodigy son’s debut in the process.
Earlier, Sirens capped an impressive President’s Cup campaign with a commanding 19-13 victory over Sliema, finishing six goals clear of their more fancied opponents.
It was another outstanding display by Ratko Perovic’s side, inspired by a scintillating eight-goal performance from Daniel Angyal.
For Sliema, meanwhile, Quim Colet’s difficult start in charge continued as the Blues suffered another disappointing defeat.
Sirens made the brighter start, taking a 2-0 lead through a Matthew Mifsud brace in the opening minutes. Sliema responded through Alberto Barroso to draw level, but goals from Angyal and Zach Mizzi restored Sirens’ two-goal advantage.
Mizzi struck again to make it 5-3 before Sliema rallied once more to level at 5-5. Angyal had the final say of the quarter, however, giving Sirens a narrow 6-5 lead at the first break.
Sliema opened the second session strongly, with Sam Engerer and Barroso scoring unanswered goals to put the Blues ahead.
Sirens quickly regained control, finding their rhythm and embarking on a dominant spell that saw them surge into an 11-7 lead. Angyal was at the heart of the charge, including converting a five-metre penalty as part of a four-goal burst.
With Sliema struggling to respond, Sirens tightened their grip on the contest in the third quarter. Angyal continued to torment the Blues’ defence, taking his tally to seven goals as the Northerners extended their advantage to 16-10 by the end of the session.
Mizzi netted his fourth goal of the evening early in the final quarter to maintain the six-goal cushion. Barroso replied with his fourth goal for Sliema to reduce the deficit to 17-12, while Riolo completed his hat-trick and Julian Chircop also got on the scoresheet.
Aware that victory would secure them the President’s Cup, Sirens remained composed until the final whistle.
Angyal fittingly capped his outstanding display as Sirens maintained their six-goal advantage and sealed a deserved 19-13 triumph.
SAN ĠILJAN 9
NEPTUNES 15
(3-6, 3-5, 0-2, 3-2)
SAN ĠILJAN: J. Tanti, J. Muscat 1, N. Schiavone, R. Caruana 2, M. Zammit 2, J. Bonavia , B. Plumpton 1, N. Zammit , D. Zammit 1 , A. Fenech 2, A. Muscat, L. Dimech 1, D. Bugeja.
NEPTUNES: Matthew Castillo, M. Lanzon, S. Gialanze 2 , L. Mallia 2 , J. Camilleri 1 , J. Valletta , S. Camilleri 6, Mark Castillo 1, J. Bajada 2, A. Fava, M. Azzopardi, M. Zuvela 1, M. Rossi, H. Shramm, C. Reeves
Referees: M. Angilleri, M. Gomez.
SLIEMA 13
SIRENS 19
(5-6, 2-5, 3-5, 3-2)
SLIEMA: B. Busuttil, A. Barroso 4, L. Galea, J. Gambin , J. Cassar 1, B. Cachia 2, J. Cutajar, D. Rizzo , E. Schembri 1, J. Cachia 1 , J. Chircop 1, D. Zammit 2, Z. Dzanovic, M. Bonello Dupius, S. Busuttil, S. Engerer 1.
SIRENS: N. Grixti, D. Angyal 8, A. Galea, G. Pace, J. Zerafa Gregory 1, K. Agius, M. Ortoleva, I. Riolo 3, P. Serracino, M. Sciberras , Z. Mizzi 4, G. Farrugia , I. Schembri, M. Mifsud 3, A. Dimech
Referees S. Licari, W. Isaja
