Waterpolo: Sliema show solidity to overcome Neptunes

SLIEMA FRANK SALT.......... 12NEPTUNES VIDEOSLOTS.... 10(3-1), (2-2), (5-4), (2-3)It was a different type of derby between these two eternal rivals. An encounter played in front of an average crowd that also lacked spark of a rivalry. Sliema headed i

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Jul 27 2024
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Waterpolo: Sliema show solidit

SLIEMA FRANK SALT.......... 12

NEPTUNES VIDEOSLOTS.... 10

(3-1), (2-2), (5-4), (2-3)

It was a different type of derby between these two eternal rivals. An encounter played in front of an average crowd that also lacked spark of a rivalry. Sliema headed into the game as favourites after the performances of both teams in recent weeks and they didn’t disappoint.

They kept their promising start to the season as they only lost to penalties against San Ġiljan. On the other hand, Neptunes lost also against San Ġiljan on penalties, but this was the second defeat this summer against Sliema, and they are starting to lose the ambition that they could seriously fight for the title.

Goals from Jayden Cutajar in the beginning, Daniel Rizzo in the middle and Elijah Schembri late in the last session game Sliema a healthy 3-0 lead. Neptunes made a reaction and recovered two goals between the last seconds of the session and the first seconds of the second session. Sliema regained their three-goal lead until Dmitrii Kholod responded for Neptunes.

Aleksander Ciric’s team reacted in the same way as they did in the previous session. They scored first in the session and cut the deficit to 5-4 but failed to lay their mark on the game. Sliema soon regained composure and by midway through the third session, they had an 8-4 advantage.

After Stevie Camilleri scored for Neptunes, Italian Giacomo Cannella put his team 10-5 ahead until Camilleri and Kholod cut the deficit to three goals in the last minute and a half of the session.

As things stood at the beginning of the last session, Sliema held a more than deserved 10-7 lead, but Neptunes were still in the game. That hope continued to shrink as time passed by. Stevie Camilleri could only respond to the goals by Cutajar and Cannella and Jake Muscat’s only goal of the game came too late.

Sliema: N. Grixti, E. Schembri (2), L. Galea, J. Gambin, G. Cannella (4), B. Cachia, J. Cutajar (4), D. Rizzo (1), J. Brownrigg (1), A. Galea, Z. Mizzi, D. Zammit, M. Castillo, J. Cassar

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, D. Kholod (2), S. Gialanze (1), G. Pace, J. Camilleri (1), L. Mallia, S. Camilleri (4), M. Castillo, J. Muscat (1), J. Bajada (1), A. Fenech, E. Mallia, M. Rossi, D. Bugeja

Referees: Matteo Giacchini, Michele Campora

SAN ĠILJAN JP PROJECTS.... 22

VALLETTA IZIBET................. 15

(6-4), (6-4), (4-3), (6-4)

In a high scoring game, champions San Ġiljan JP Projects remained undefeated in their win against Valletta Izibet. Both teams faced each other earlier in the month and San Ġiljan had won 26-10, a result that confirms the strength of San Ġiljan. Valletta were in the game for large parts but were punished for sloppy mistakes that cost them dearly and as the game progressed, the gap got even bigger.

Valletta had twice the advantage in the first session until San Ġiljan took a 6-4 lead through goals by Nikolai Zammit, Jeremy Abela and Matthew Zammit, all in the last two and a half minutes of the session.

Joe Cremona’s team partially cancelled the two-goal disadvantage but by midway through the second session, San Ġiljan had an 8-6. Max Zammit responded for Valletta, but three consecutive penalties scored by Nikolai Zammit twice and Matthew Zammit gave San Ġiljan a much-needed breathing space.

San Ġiljan made sure of the win in the first part of the third session after three consecutive goals and an advantage of 15-8. Valletta cut the deficit to four goals and missed three man-up situations in the process until Nico Schiavone scored for San Ġiljan.

Goals kept coming even in the last session. San Ġiljan maintained control while Valletta tried to limit the damage. With a little less than two and a half minutes till the end of the game, San Ġiljan had a 20-15 lead until left-handers Nikolai Zammit and Russell Caruana sealed the win in two of their last attacks of the game.

San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, N. Bugelli (1), D. Tully, R. Caruana (1), A. Younger (3), M. Zammit (4), J. Bonavia (1), J. Zammit, J. Abela (2), N. Zammit (4), D. Zammit (2), N. Schiavone (3), G. Borg, G. Bonavia (1)

Valletta: B. Busuttil, M. Mifsud (3), J. Sciberras (1), S. Busuttil (2), K. Borg (1), M. Zammit (2), I. Nagaev (5), S. Micallef (1), A. Agius, M. Chircop, K. Cremona, A. Bugeja, C. Mercieca

Referees: Peter Balzan, Michele Campora

FIRST DIVISION

MARSAXLOKK MFF......... 18

TA’ XBIEX AMIGOS.......... 10

(4-3), (4-4), (4-2), (6-1)

Marsaxlokk: M. Farrugia, M. Lanzon (3), A. Cook (2), B. Zammit, A. Aquilina, J. Valletta (2), R. Spiteri, J. Pawley, R. Galea (5), J. Borg Tabone, F. Valera (4), R. Attard (1), A. Fava, S. Mifsud (1)

Ta’ Xbiex: J. Micallef, J. Farrugia (1), V. Figliomeni, L. Grech Carr (1), F. Scardino (2), M. Jelaca (3), J. Saliba, A. Camenzuli (1), M. Soler, J. Culic (1), G. Gatt, P. Tabone (1), A. Theuma, T. Fenech

Referees: Matteo Giacchini, Ronnie Spiteri

P W D L F A Pts

San Ġiljan 7 5 2 0 117 67 19

Sliema 7 6 1 0 98 69 19

Sirens 7 4 0 3 71 71 12

Neptunes 7 3 1 3 86 80 10

Valletta 7 1 0 6 86 112 3

Birżebbuġa 7 0 0 7 52 111 0

*2 points for the winner and 1 point for the loser if the game has to be decided on penalties

P W D L F A Pts

Marsaxlokk 7 7 0 0 113 62 21

Exiles 7 5 0 2 96 68 15