In Wednesday’s BOV Preliminary Round programme, Sirens registered the biggest win so far in the competition when they overwhelmed Otters 25-6, while Sliema overcame Marsaskala 14-7 in what eventually turned out to be a cantering victory.
As anticipated, Neptunes piled up the goals against Ta’ Xbiex in a game they dominated from start to finish.
Sliema gave Marsaskala a flimsy goal-start in the first match, before completing the formalities with a comfortable 14-7 win.
There was nothing the southerners could do against the Winter League champions who thrived on their thrustful swimming and powerful shooting to send Jurgen Micallef’s net bulging with regularity. Dino Zammit ended as his team’s top scorer with five goals.
SLIEMA 14
MARSASKALA 7
(3-2, 4-2, 4-1, 3-2)
SLIEMA N. Grixti, J. Gabaretta, L. Galea, D. Rizzo, M. Meli, B. Cachia 1, J. Cutajar 1, M. Mifsud 2, J. Brownrigg, J. Gambin 2, Z. Mizzi 2, D. Zammit 5, A. Theuma, K. Borg 1.
MARSASKALA J. Micallef, JC Cutajar, P. Privitera 2, R. Greco1, G. Galea, K. Navarro, M. Manara, D. Pace Lupi 2, G. Sammut, J. Ciantar 1, M. Carani 1, A. Muscat.
Refs: M. Angileri, A. Carrer
Winning the first two sessions 5-0 and 6-2, Sirens had a great take-off, before they extended their advantage 18-4 at the end of the penultimate quarter.
Sirens went on to finish at a canter as they scored seven more goals. The limelight at this point was when Gianni Farrugia brought his tally up to seven goals, thus making it to the top of the scorers’ list, followed by Ken Erdogan, who scored six.
SIRENS 25
OTTERS 6
(5-0, 6-2, 7-2, 7-2)
SIRENS T. Micallef, P. Serracino, K. Erdogan 6, J. Sciberras 1, J. Zerafa Gregory 2, G. Farrugia 7, M. Chircop, I. Riolo, J. Napier, M. Cutajar 2, M. Sciberras 2, G. Melillo 2, K. Agius 2.
OTTERS M. Xerri, M. Bonnici 1, K. Scicluna, L. Grech Carr 1, M. Farrugia, D. Dimech, I. Azzopardi, S. Dimech, L. Dimech 1, S. Apap 1, Z. Bartolo 2, A. Dimech, G. Gatt Ellis
Refs: R. Spiteri, M. Alessandroni.
As anticipated, Neptunes piled up the goals in a match that they dominated from start to finish despite not utilising Steven Camilleri and Jeremy Abela.
Goals from their players were never at a premium as was the constant rotation of most of their resources when they were given a feel of the water.
Neptunes exploited their opponents’ inexperience. Ta’ Xbiex were outwitted despite the presence of Ryan Coleiro between the goalposts.
Neptunes had two important cogs in their machine – Alec Fenech and Jake Muscat. Apart from goal-scoring catalyst Muscat who netted six times, Fenech slotted four goals. Gabriel Pace was all over the place with his experience coming in very useful while Michael Spiteri Staines was always in the thick of the frame. Youngsters Andreas Fava and Jake Cachia also put their names on the scoresheet.
TA’ XBIEX 5
NEPTUNES 18
(0-5, 1-7, 1-3, 3-3)
TA’ XBIEX R. Coleiro, JC Saliba, T. Fenech, J Pace Mizzi, E. Meli, S. Engerer, Z. Cutajar Licari 1, J. Cassar 2, E. Schembri 2, L. Attard, P. Tabone, J. Chircop. Z. Dzanovic
NEPTUNES A. Borg Cole, J. Muscat 6, S. Gialanze, G. Pace 2, J. Cachia 1, J. Spiteri Staines, M.Farrugia, J. Camilleri 1, A. Fava 1, M. Spiteri Staines 2, A. Fenech 4, M. Castillo 1, A. Bonetti.
Refs: A. DeRaffaele, A. Carrer
Next Fixtures Friday June 10 2022 Group A 6.15 pm Otters vs Neptunes, Group B 7.20 pm Marsaskala vs M’Xlokk, 8.25pm Exiles vs Sliema
