San Giljan Crystal Finance were this evening crowned waterpolo champions after Sliema beat Neptunes 12-10 at the national pool at Tal-Qroqq.
Neptunes needed to beat Sliema to remain on course for the league title ahead of their match against San Giljan on Saturday.
But the Blues of Sliema beat the Reds of Balluta Bay 12-10 to keep Neptunes five points behind leaders San Giljan, enough for the Saints to be sure of their title come what may in Saturday’s game.
San Giljan last Saturday beat Neptunes 13-12 in the Knock-Out final. The league victory makes it a double for the Saints.
The last time San Giljan won the league was in 1995.
Sliema Frank Salt 12 Neptunes Grimaldi 10
(2-2, 6-1, 2-6, 2-1)
Neptunes had to win this match to stay in contention for a shot at the league title, which had been theirs for the last five seasons. Only a win would have sufficed, but Sliena had other ideas. They had a somewhat disappointing season, although they had started off winning the President's Cup, and they wanted to end on a positive note, by beating their perennial rivals, to end their season just as they had began it.
San Giljan were very interested spectators, with a five-point lead at the top of the standings, and Sliema's win has stamped their league title success, after an absence of 20 years, which they will celebrate effusively next Saturday, it also being the feast of their patron saint.
Sliema were twice in front at the start, also missing a penalty throw, with Alan Borg Cole saving off Michael Bodegas. Steve Camilleri tied the score for Neptunes. In the next period Neptunes failed in three man ups, while Sliema were pouring in their goals, five in all, before Neptunes pulled a goal back, but Sliema restored their nap hand advantage just before the end of the session, for an unexpected 8-3 lead.
After the break Neptunes' first brace of goals had Sliema answering each time. Neptunes pressed further, and this brought them a four-goal burst, ending with a Steve Camilleri penalty, where the Sliema skipper, John Soler, was shown the red card for protests. Neptunes had crept back to a 9-10 score, with a last quarter to be played.
Sliema had also lost Nikola Dedovic on fouls by that time. This last session has Sliema doubling their advantage, when Bodegas did not fail again from his second penalty throw. Neptunes continued to miss their man ups, and a couple of minutes from the end Sliema sealed their victory with a Jerome Gabarretta strike. Neptunes did pull a goal back, less than a minute from the end, but Sliema were not going to let an occasion pass by, where they could make their fierce adversaries suffer, and they held out till the end, with the Sliema supporters happy with their win over the auld enemy, and the numerous San Giljan supporters shouting out their joy at capturing the league title, with a match to go.
It seems incredible that the strong Neptunes outfit has remained empty handed this summer season, with Sliema taking the President's Cup, and San Giljan bagging the K.O. win last Saturday, and now being crowned champion.
Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 1, N. Bugelli 1, T. Sullivan 1, M. Meli , J. Soler 2, M. Spiteri Staines , C. Cluett , J. Brownrigg 2, M. Bodegas 3,M. Fenech , N. Dedovic 2, Z. Sciberras
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, M. Castiloo , M. Stellini , T. Agius 2, I. Krapic , S. Camilleri 5, J. Camilleri 2, M. Azzopardi , P. Biros ,B. Lanzon , S. Xerri de Caro , C. Mercieca
Referees: M. Dalli, F. Gomez
Championship Pool
San Giljan Crystal Finance 34
Neptunes Grimaldi 29
Sliema Frank Salt 17
BOV 1 Div. K.O - Final
Clean sweep of honours by M'Scala
M'Xlokk Fischer 8 M'Scala Nutrition Empire 10
(2-3, 2-2, 3-2, 1-3)
M'Scala made a clean sweep of the three honours pertaining the 1st Division, when they again had the better of M'xlokk, this time in the BOVK.O. final, adding it on to the Sports Journalists Cup and the League title decider, always at M'Xlokk's expense.
It was a see saw final, with both sides enjoying advantages. M'Scala came back, to head their opponents 3-2, in the opening session. Them M'Scala took a maximum 5-2 advantage, only for M'Xlokk to whittle their deficit down to a single gaol at the interval, on a 5-4 score.
After the break M'Scala went two ahead, only for M'xlokk's Milos Korolija to put in three goals in a row, as his side went in front. Stephen Micallef, who ended the match with four goals to his name, just as Korolija, tied the score, at 7-7, and that is how the last quarter began. M'Scal scored twice, with M'xolkk going to within a goal, but Stephen Micallef made the issue safe for M'Scala, with his last goal.
At the end of the match the BOV Chief executive, Paul Gauci, along with the ASA President; Joe Caruana Curran, distributed medals to all the players, and the winning trophy to the M'Scala skipper, Joseph Cremona.
M'xlokk: N. Xuereb , C. Spiteri de Barro , M. Korolija 4, A. Galea , C. Gialanze , C. Bugeja , I. Vuksanovic 3, R. Scerri , M. Lanzon , J. Xerri de Caro 1, J. Cremona
M'Scala: K. Schembri, JC Cutajar 2, M. Pace , C. Bonello , B. Torok 2, L. Grixti 1, K. Navarro , J. Cremona , S. Micallef 4, M. Pasztor 1,D. Cassar , C. Mifsud , M. Pace
Referees: P. Balzan, G. Lo Dico
Photos Domenic Aquilina