Eleven clubs affiliated to the Malta Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA) were on the line for the opening day of the Clubs' League series which got underway recently at the Marsa Athletic Stadium.
In all, 14 teams were registered for the competitions even though some formations included a token contingency from some clubs.
The struggle for points in the men's category was intense up to the last event - the 4x100m relay.
Here, the two Pembroke teams, drawing upon their larger pool of sprinters, had the edge over their rivals and claimed the two top spots.
Pembroke's Team A had already tucked in all three jumping events, Paul Vella winning both the high and long jumps. The meeting produced some outstanding individual results with the sprints, as is the custom, serving the most exciting fare.
In fact, seasonal bests were recorded in the 100m, which Rashid Chouhal won in 10.61, and in the 200m where Darren Gilford edged out Mario Bonello (La Salle) and Karl Farrugia (Allcomers). The young Pembroke sprinter clocked 21.84.
Chouhal, also won the 400m effortlessly in a good time of 50.51, finishing the day in style in the relay.
This year, Allcomers and Libertas seem to be the two main challengers to dethrone Pembroke.
Allcomers managed only one first placing, that by Mario Mifsud in the discus. However, their bold efforts were manifest in all the other events where they registered three second placings and three third placings to finish the meeting as runners-up.
Libertas shone in the middle and longer distance events with winning times coming from Charles Cilia, in the 5,000m, and Gerald Grech in the 1,500m. Jean Paul Callus, so dominant in the javelin, bagged Libertas another first place.
The MAAA is also holding a ladies' league. For the five events at each of the three meetings, five clubs are allowed to register their teams in a sprint, a jump, a long distance race, a field event and a 4x100m relay.
Pembroke A won two events... Charlene Attard producing another fine 12.66 in the 100m and Antonella Cachia clearing 33.28m in the discus.
One other top spot was won by Libertas in the 800m where Lisa Camilleri continued with her fine comeback, winning handsomely in 2:22.43.
Pembroke B won the relay with anchor Rebecca Camilleri in the team. Camilleri went on to steal the limelight in another event, though, the long jump.
Knocking on the record tables all season, she finally broke her duck and registered a 5.83m, a 5.84m and a best jump of 5.94m.
All three were past the established mark but unfortunately for her none of the three jumps could be ratified because of a slightly strong following wind... one of her efforts was a mere 0.1mps over the accepted limit of two metres per second.
Perhaps Camilleri's record and other results could have been easier to attain had training at Marsa, with the only suitable track available in Malta, not been interrupted for three weeks. And this for the sake of a football tournament which could have easily been played elsewhere.
Top four after first day of Clubs' League:
Men: 1. Pembroke Kyocera A 155; 2. Allcomers AC 143; 3. Pembroke Kyocera B 136; 4. AS Libertas 134.
Women: 1. Pembroke Kyocera A 32; 2. Pembroke Kyocera B 28; 3. Pembroke Kyocera C 19; 4. AS Libertas 17.