Leaders Sirens fight back to share the spoils

Sliema 7
Sirens 7
(2-1, 2-1, 1-2, 2-3)

Sirens Go Mobile retained their exclusive spot at the top of the table, two points above their new nearest challengers, Sliema Burger King, when the teams shared 14 goals in a match which built up to an exciting finale.

As it turned out, and after Neptunes defeated Marsascala in the previous clash, the battle for the title is as open as ever. It is a known secret that all the contestants are on an even keel, and only particular episodes in a match can be the decisive factors.

Yesterday's match reflected this equilibrium. The champions started well and at one moment took a 4-1 lead in the second session. The league leaders remained unperturbed and fought bravely in the latter quarters to save the game, this after having twice taken the lead in the final eight minutes of the game.

Sliema, who had Maltese-Australian James Falzon, Nicky's brother, making his seasonal debut, went about their cover chores by opting for zone and eventually banking for a possible break. Francesco Cutajar gave them the lead on an extra-man, with Soler doubling the score. Sirens missed a man-up but Montfort managed to reduce the arrears from a distance.

The Blues were a perkier lot and Soler swivelled on Montfort to rocket into the net for a 3-1 scoreline early in the second session. The St Paul's Bay team wasted their second numerical advantage and paid the penalty when Soler hit in a scorcher to make it 4-1. David Cutajar immediately reduced the gap to 4-2 before the Blues squandered their chance with a Sirens player excluded.

Tactics remained largely unchanged as the teams shifted sides. There was loose marking, with defenders tightening up on opponents in possession as the 35-second period drew to a close.

Claudio Spiteri De Barro netted a grand goal on a back hand to close the leeway to 4-3. Sliema missed their second man-up on three and Sirens followed suit, frittering their fourth set from as many occasions.

Sirens raised their game and Neil Cassar's shot from seven metres levelled matters. The Blues, though, were not to be outdone and Paris potted to put his team 5-4 ahead into the last session.

It was now press, turning to double cover at both ends. Another Spiteri De Barro special from a back hand levelled matters. In the meantime, excitement started brewing. Valleta converted a man-up with five minutes to go to give Sirens the lead for the first time.

Paris equalised when his team recovered the ball after missing a man-up set. It was ding-dong now and man-up chances were vital.

Sirens did not miss their sixth courtesy of John Farrugia while the Blues messed up their fifth.

But Paris procured another dismissal in his team's favour and his lob restored parity on 7-7.

The Blues called a time-out with 27 seconds left and Sirens did likewise four seconds from time. But the score remained unaltered. It was a fair result.

Sliema: J. Cachia, N. Falzon, E. Aquilina, M. Galea Pace, J. Falzon, J. Soler (3), J. Paris (3), K. Engerer, C. Debono, F. Cutajar (1), R. Coleiro, I. Muscat, A. Bianchi.

Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, C. Spiteri De Barro (2), K. Rizzo Naudi, S. Cachia, J. Valletta (1), J. Borg, D. Cutajar (1), K. Montfort (1), W. Degiorgio, N. Imbroll, J. Farrugia (1), N. Cassar (1).

Refs: P. Balzan, L. Bianco.

Neptunes again on bonanza against Marsascala

Neptunes 9
Marsascala 3
(2-0, 1-1, 3-1, 3-1)

It seems as if Neptunes Vodafone are able to call on extra reserves of steam in terms of speed and the right tactical ploys when they face Marsascala Breakers. Their comfortable 9-3 victory against a team that had just beaten leaders Sirens and Sliema, was testimony to this.

The Reds were the complete masters in all aspects of the game.

Despite having their morale at a low-ebb after conceding defeat at the death against Sliema last Sunday, the winter league title holders responded well to the clarion-call of their coach Dirk Dowling, who must have insisted on thrustful, but calm fare in front of a zone cover which lured opponents into last-ditch and hurried shots.

On top of that, Neptunes were not as wasteful on extra man play, especially when it mattered and that helped build a solid base which went widening as the exchanges kept unfolding.

In the absence of the indisposed Karl Galea, Neptunes started with John Brownrigg in the centre. They lost their early first man-up while Kayne Lanzon frittered an ideal chance on a break. Zammit converted when Marsascala had a man less after which the south seasiders lost three numerical advantages on the trot. With under two seconds to go, Neptunes converted a penalty through Lanzon. Privitera was on two personal faults at that stage.

Licari made no mistake when Cachia was dismissed to reduce the deficit to 2-1. Neptunes failed a second man-up. Privitera was still in the water but was deployed in the centre. Cautious cover rendered break a difficult proposition, while centres at the respective ends were well-taken care of.

Marsascala again wasted a man-up, with Neptunes taking their chance from a similar situation, through Edward Cachia.

The Reds's semi-zone cover was countered by the southerners' press, but exchanges looked arid as both teams were compelled to go for a hurried pot at goal with possession time drawing to a close.

Neptunes were a man-up at the beginning of the third session after winning the swim-up, a point which was disputed by Marsascala. Pisani exploited that situation to go 4-1 ahead. Pierre Borg could not get his boys into a smooth transfer of the ball on man-up sets. They lost another occasion.

The Reds were not doing badly in this regards as David Camilleri converted another set to make it 5-1.

Neptunes conceded a goal with Azzopardi excluded after he had squandered their third chance with a man extra. The trailing Pisani profited from a Bugeja misplaced pass to make it 6-2 with three seconds to go for the last session.

Neptunes lost their fourth man-up on eight while Marsascala, unbelievably squandered a two-man advantage. Zammit's perfect lob on a man-up and John Brownrigg's cute conversion made it 8-2 with under five minutes left.

The Reds were totally in control, more than they had been in the initial stages. All they had to do was to play calmly.

Xerri de Caro reduced the deficit on a man-up to 8-3, but Niki evaded the clutches of his brother Kayne to restore the six-goal gap.

That was that and the Balluta team finished easy winners.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon (2), S. Camilleri, S. Gravina, E. Cachia (1), J. Brownrigg (1), G. Sammut, C. Zammit (2), Dav. Camilleri (1), M. Azzopardi, Dean Camilleri, M. Stellini, M. Pisani (2).

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, P. Fava, A. Galea, P. Privitera, C. Gialanze, J. Xerri De Caro (1), J. Licari (1), J. Cremona, K. Lanzon, K. Enriquez, M. Zammit (1), D. Ciappara.

Refs: M. Dalli, M. Di Chiara.