Masterly Reds crush Sirens

by Alex Vella

Again, the Sirens clan, including coach Marco Risso, could only watch their team in a resigned disposition as Neptunes Emirates eased off to a mammoth victory to re-open a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League standings.

That the Reds cantered to this decisive 20-6 victory is an under-statement.

Their varied skills, width in their movement and scoring ability were again the ingredients of the Reds’ success. Most of the goals came from Steve Camilleri, with six, and Niki Lanzon and Tamas Molnar with five strikes and four respectively.

More than that it is Neptunes’ collective play, based on a sound rearguard, that stands out.

However, stiffer tests lie ahead.

Neptunes started in roller-coasting fashion, taking a 6-2 first-session lead with Lanzon and Molnar each netting twice and the others coming from Camilleri and Michele Stellini.

Except for two well-timed shots from captain David Cutajar, Sirens could do little else.

With their foot still on the pedal, Neptunes increased their lead to 10-4 by the interval. The six-goal gap was indicative of the cham-pions’ absolute supremacy.

The dismantling went on in the third eight-minute period as the Reds’ momentum was kept up.

One had the impression that Neptunes could score at will. A 6-1 session reading said it all.

Sirens had long looked a beaten lot. That they battled on bravely could only be of credit to them as they finished the match com-prehensively beaten, never mind their opponents easing off.

Neptunes 20 – Sirens 6
(6-2, 4-2, 6-1, 4-1)

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 5, A. Sammut, M. Stellini 2, T. Agius, A. Ciric 1, S. Camilleri 6, J. Camilleri 1, G. Pace, J. Scerri de Caro, T. Molnar 4, C. Mercieca 1.

Sirens: J. Cremona, Z. Mizzi, M. Grech, J. Napier, A. Babay 2, Z. Kiss 2, J. Borg, D. Cutajar 2, A. Zarb Cousin, A. Attard, S. Micallef, J. Zampa, A. Grech.

Refs: M. Angilleri, S. Scappini.

Standings