Waterpolo: San Giljan edge Sliema to win winter league for third time

San Giljan Tum Invest 8

Sliema Betsson    6

(3-1), (1-1), (0-2), (4-2)

San Giljan Tum Invest are the champions of the Bank of Valletta Winter League for the second consecutive year after they defeated Sliema Betsson 8-6 in a tight affair.

Credit goes to both sets of teams who fought for every ball and sometimes the arguments characterised what really the players were fighting for.

Sliema adopted more of a press approach towards their opponents and in some instances they really put San Giljan in difficulty, but the compact and gelled team of San Giljan restored their lead in the final minutes to settle the game.

Three goals in the first session looked to have paved the way for San Giljan for an easy win, but Sliema held on in the second session, held their opponents and finished it with a two-goal disadvantage. In this session, Sliema lost Kai Dowling while San Giljan had to do without Ben Plumpton.

Sliema took the initiative after the break and dictated play. They deservedly equalised with two goals by Gabarretta and Spiteri Staines, in the beginning and end of the session.

San Giljan took again the lead in the last session by Peter Borg, but Mark Meli equalised instantly. It was down to Paul Fava as he scored a brace and put his team in the driving seat. Gabarretta kept his team hoping, but Matthew Zammit sealed the deal with a shot from the right side.

After the game, Anthony Scicluna from BOV and President of the ASA Joe Caruana presented the trophy to their captain Matthew Zammit.

San Giljan: J. Tanti, P. Borg (1), A. Galea, B. Grech, D. Zammit, M. Zammit (3), B. Plumpton (1), J. Galea, T. Said, A. Cousin, P. Fava (2), D. Zammit (1), T. Micallef

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta (3), E. Aquilina, C. Cluett, M. Meli (1), K. Dowling, M. Spiteri Staines (2), M. Mifsud, A. Mifsud, A. Attard, Z. Mizzi, N. Bugelli, Z. Sciberras

Referees: Mario Dalli, Peter Balzan

 

Neptunes    9

Valletta McDonalds      7

(2-1), (3-3), (1-1), (3-2)

A hard fought win for Neptunes as they squeezed past Valletta 9-7 to confirm third place. Neptunes had the upper hand in most of the game, but found a resilient Valletta side that always had a reaction after conceding a goal.

Valletta were at par with their opponents up until almost the end of the third session but after Niki Lanzon's splendid goal, Valletta lost their goalkeeper and their heads and permitted Neptunes to control the final minutes of the game.

Stephen Rizzo adopted an aggressive approach to the game as Valletta pressed Neptunes heavily, committing a number of fouls resulting in exclusions that led James Spiteri Staines, Michael Rizzo and Andrea Agius, all to be excluded in separate sessions.

On the other hand, Neptunes kept playing the same game with their usual starting line-up almost playing the full game.

Neptunes had only a goal advantage at the end of the second session as Valletta managed to react after the goals by Neptunes. They equalised with a long range shot by Keith Galea and shared the game with their opponents.

But Neptunes needed a spark by their captain as he beat Sciortino with a backhand in the left corner that also sparked the frustration of the Valletta goalkeeper, being given marching orders by referee Massimo Angileri.

Having James Spiteri Staines, Michael Rizzo and Ryan Sciortino all out of the game, Valletta looked powerless to react, losing also their concentration, and Neptunes were brave enough to take advantage by securing the game.

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon (1), K. Erdogan, J. Culic, T. Agius (2), M. Tabone, S. Gravina (1), J. Camilleri (2), J. Abela (2), M. Zammit (1), M. Martellacci, M. Azzopardi, I. Bugeja

Valletta: R. Sciortino, J. Spiteri Staines, A. Agius (1), M. Rizzo, M. Fenech, R. Mock, D. Paolella (2), M. Cordina (2), D. Fenech, K. Galea (2), O. Zammit, F. Buhagiar

Referees: Massimo Angileri, Alex De Raffaele

 

Sirens         12

Exiles Jetfreight  2

(0-1), (6-0), (3-1), (3-0)

Sirens emerged as clear winners from the play-off for fifth and sixth place by dominating Exiles Jetfreight. During the league, they were slightly better than their opponents, but it was a disappointing ending for Exiles who closed the gap with their opponents this year.

Exiles started the better team, winning the first session 1-0 with a goal by Michele Stellini, but Sirens woke up in the second session and scored four consecutive goals in similar fashion thanks to youngster Jacob Sciberras.

This led to Sirens controlling the game with no difficulty, as Exiles looked stunned. In fact it was only in the third session that they scored their second goal through Julian Rizzo Naudi, but until then Sirens had opened up a seven goal margin.

Sergio Afric's team controlled also the last session scoring another three goals to close an easy win.

Sirens: N. Grixti, M. Sciberras, J. Sciberras (5), M. Grech (1), J. Zerafa Gregory (1), J. Cutajar, D. Cutajar (2), J. Napier (1), J. Brownrigg (1), L. Caruana (1), O. Gauci, C. Mercieca

Exiles: M. Castillo, J. Rizzo Naudi (1), J. Bajada, M. Stellini (1), T. Sullivan, S. Xerri de Caro, D. Borg Millo, K. Griscti, N. Paris, A. Bianchi, A. Magri, L. Felice, S. Galea Pace

Referees: Ronnie Spiteri, Stefan Licari

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