Sirens became the first finalists in the Knock-Out competition when they easily overcame a somewhat demoralised Sliema with a comfortable six-goal margin.

There was no doubt that the St. Paul's Bay side was going to win as play gradually started progressing into the second session.

Sliema's absentees through suspension Tibor Benedek and Edward Aquilina were sorely felt. In fact Marco Manara, who earlier in the season also lost the services of Mark Meli and even Francesco Cutajar - nursing an injury - had limited options available and had to field various youngsters in the water at the same time.

Karl Montfort, Tamas Marcz and Clint Mercieca (who notched a personal poker) opened a 3-0 lead for Sirens who now face today's winners between Neptunes and San Giljan in Saturday's final which will draw a curtain to this year's local waterpolo.

John Soler scored a beauty, from a metre inside Sirens' half, with a second to go of the first session but this did not give much impetus to the Blues as Sirens won the second session 4-1 to change ends 7-2 ahead.

Soler was again the goal-getter (from two metres) for Sliema, who have now ended their seasonal commitments and this was the second consecutive year with no major honour.

Mercieca got his brace when Bianchi did not swim back to defend and Sirens' other goals came from a Paul Privitera lob, a Charles Zammit scorcher to the right and a Jonathan Valletta late goal.

Hungarian Marcz and Mercieca increased the margin with two goals in the third session and then the last session was a mere formality although Sliema did manage to make it a more respectable scoreline scoring four times through Soler, Michael Rizzo and Clint Debono, the latter getting his side's last seasonal goal 24 seconds from the end with a close range back-hand.

Last year's champions Sirens now await today's semi-final in their quest to win an honour this season.

Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, T. Debono, N. Cassar, P. Privitera 1, C. Zammit 1, J. Valletta 2, J. Borg, D. Cutajar, K. Montfort 2, T. Marcz 2, C. Mercieca 4, R. Attard, J. Sammut.

Sliema: R. Coleiro, C. Gialanze, M. Manara, M. Rizzo 1, J. Gabaretta, J. Soler 3, D. Paolella, P. Felice, C. Debono 2, F. Cutajar, N. Lubrano, A. Bianchi, J. Cachia.

Refs: L. Bianco, M. Dalli

Today's programme

Tal-Qroqq: Div. II KO 5.30pm Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise-Exiles; Division I KO 6.45pm San Giljan Zara-Neptunes Vodafone