Neptunes eliminate fighting Saints
by Alex Vella, National Pool
San Ġiljan 14 –
Neptunes 15
(4-4, 2-2, 3-6, 5-3 – agg: 21-29)
After their 14-7 victory over San Ġiljan, it was odds on that Neptunes Emirates would proceed to the final of the Premier Division BOV KO competition.
However, San Ġiljan put their hearts into this second leg and fought until the last seconds when they annulled a four-goal deficit only to fall to a goal netted by young Gabriel Pace with just over a second to go.
Given their performance yesterday, the Reds would have to up their game considerably to retain the KO title this summer.
Tamas Molnar scoring one of his goals
They may have lacked motivation considering their first-leg lead. But the Saints put them to severe test mostly courtesy of Darko Brguljan, scorer of a massive eight goals. They also profited from 11 expulsions but only netted five times against Neptunes’ one on six.
This time, it was the Reds who had influential player Alexandar Ciric expelled on three personal faults even if this was midway in the last session.
San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, J.C. Cutajar 1, D. Brguljan 8, K. Galea 1, B. Plump-ton, M. Zammit 1, B. Letica 2, A. Bianchi 1, R. Mock, C. Gialanze, K. Mock, D. Abela, M. Pisani.
Neptunes: I. Bugeja, N. Lanzon 2, E. Aquilina, M. Stellini 2, G. Pace 1, A. Ciric 2, S. Camilleri 4, J. Camilleri, B. Lanzon, S. Gravina, R. Sciortino, T. Molnar 3, C. Mercieca 1.
Refs: M. Dalli, C. Congiu.
