Easy wins for Sliema, Sirens

The World Cup gripping fever at a high point, it seemed churchish to grumble that the Waterpolo opening scenario for the summer season attracted very few patrons, all the more so, since the initial acts had two of the primadonnas teaming up with the supporting cast.

The outcome was understandably a foregone conclusion as neither Exiles RMF and Otters ASC could offer a modicum of resistance against Sliema Burger King and Go Mobile Sirens respectively.

Sliema 13
Exiles 5
(1-0, 4-2, 5-1, 3-2)

In the first encounter title-holders Sliema eased past their neighbours in confident fashion, with their chief marksman John Soler helping himself to six goals.

Most of the Blues' conversions came in the middle sessions after Exiles had conceded only one goal in the opening quarter.

But the Sliema's potency emerged as they ripped apart their opponents' defensive shield with consummate ease, either on breaks, set play or man-ups.

Exiles could ill-afford not to utilise their possession time as much as was possible. Perhaps it was to their credit that they did not adopt stifling tactics.

But Sliema were in uncompromising mood and made sure of the result before they paraded most of their tailenders in the latter stages of the game.

At least Exiles halted their progressive downward slide in the last session when they only came off the worst by the odd goal in five.

Sliema: J. Cachia, M. Calleja, M. Manara (1), M. Galea Pace, P. Cachia (2), J. Soler (6), J. Paris (1), K. Engerer (1), R. Coleiro, F. Cutajar, I. Muscat (1), K. Schembri, E. Aquilina (1).

Exiles: D. Camilleri, M. Grima, A. Cachia, D. Pace Lupi, T. Sullivan (1), S. Grech, J. Cuschieri, A. Bruno, S. Balzan, S. Borg (2), J. Vella (2), K. Lanzon.

Referees: Mario Dalli, Miro Caruana.

Sirens 20
Otters 0
(6-0, 3-0, 6-0, 5-0)

The Go Mobile Sirens-Otters ASC clash turned out to be a monotonously one-sided affair, with the St Paul's Bay team breaking the duck at the outset, never to look back, as they kept piling the score in their favour.

The gap between the teams was such that Sirens' goalkeeper Joe Caruana Dingli was shelved in the opening session to give way to the promising Alan Grech.

Understandably Sirens' coach Bruno Cofino made use of most of the manjack at his disposal, even bringing in the squad's third goalkeeper Nicholas Imbroll.

It was more of a casual training session for Jonathan Valletta and his clan with the hapless team from Gozo conceding goals at regular intervals and never posing any menace for the Sirens' custodian.

For statistical purposes, each of the St Paul's Bay team's players inserted his name in the scorers list, except for their three goalkeepers and John Farrugia, who was not utilised.

Also, Sirens managed to reach the 20-goal target with Chris Cauchi helping himself to a naphand.

Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, C. De Barro (1), N. Imbroll, P. Privitera (2), C. Cauchi (5), J. Valletta (3), J. Borg (1), D. Cutajar (1), K. Montfort (2), W. Degiorgio (4), A. Grech, J. Farrugia, N. Cassar (1).

Otters: A. Tabone, J. Cefai, G.L. Zammit, M. Camilleri, C. Zammit, S. Zammit, P. Saliba, K. Vella, S. Galea Testaferrata, D. Zammit, M. Tabone, D. Saliba.

Referees: Massimo Ancilleri, Ant. Farrugia.

Playing today - 5 p.m. Marsaxlokk Freeport vs Neptunes Vodafone; 6 p.m. San Giljan Kia Motors vs Marsascala SC; 7 p.m. Valletta United vs Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise.