Sliema's supporters turned up in droves anticipating another league championship victory after their win over rivals Neptunes a week before. They were not let down and nobody was really anticipating a Sirens shock result.

Sirens were only in the match till the end of the opening session, but from then on Sliema turned on the pressure and Sirens wilted, especially as they couldn't manage to score from their first nine man ups in their favour.

They bagged the last two but it was only in the final quarter, when they had a huge deficit to surmount. On the other hand Sliema struck in their six extra player occasions and only failed their last one very late in the match.

Josie Cachia played another blinder in goal for the champions also saving a penalty, and Jonathan Valletta in his expected swan song remaining games this season, was accurate in his shooting putting in five past Sammut in Sirens' goal.

Sliema's superiority was also shown when they lost Bogdan Rath on fouls early after the interval, but weathered out the thrid session, and then opened up on all fronts in the last quarter as they continued to increase their lead.

It was a back to back league success for the Blues, and their 31st league victory, way ahead of the next contenders Neptunes with 18 league wins.

It was Sirens who drew first blood, through David Cutajar but Sliema didn't take long to overturn the score as John Brownrigg and John Soler from a tight angle, put the champions ahead. Sirens rallied and Ryan Mock beat Cachia in-off the post.

Sliema were back in front as Rath converted his first penalty. In the second period Sliema went out with teeth bared and Sirens couldn't cope against the tide that hit them. Rajmund Fodor, Rath and Mark Meli made it 6-2. Sliema didn't stop there and Valletta Rath and Valletta again had the champions on a strong 9-2 advantage midway through the encounter.

Rath was fouled out soon after the start of the third session but when Sirens were awarded a penalty, Cachia beat down Tamas Marcz's throw. Sliema had Valletta to get them into double figures, and Paul Privitera could finally beat Cachia, as this session only produced a couple of goals.

There was more to come in the last period. Meli and Soler increased Sliema's lead, and Baranji obtained Siren's fourth goal. Valletta planted in another for the champions, who put in Ryan Coleiro in goal in lieu of the excellent Cachia. Jerome Gabarretta put his name among the goalscorers, and in between Baranji grabbed his second for Sirens.

When Sliema were awarded a third penalty, it was Valletta who set the seal on his performance, with Sliema's final goal. There was more to come from Sirens as they put in two more past Coleiro through Marcz and a Baranji penalty, as Sliema had long been celebrating their league success.

After the match the BOV Chief Officer, Peter Perotti, presented the Sliema captain, Josie Cachia, with the league championship trophy.

Sirens: J. Sammut, 3 A. Baranji, A. Galea, 1 P. Privitera, R. Scerri, 1 R. Mock, J. Borg, 1 D. Cutajar, A. Attard, C. Zammit, D. Zammit, 1 T. Marcz, C. Mercieca

Sliema: J. Cachia, 2 J. Gabarretta, N. Lubrano, 1 R. Fodor, 2 M. Meli, 2 J. Soler, D. Paolella, 1 J. Brownrigg, C. Debono, 5 J. Valletta, M. Rizzo, 3 B. Rath, R. Coleiro

Referees: I. Sciriha, A. Pascucci

Marsaxlokk's win, their first over Ta’ Xbiex this season, after a loss and a draw, gave them the first berth in the final in a game in which they showed more commitment than their opponents. Sliema's supporters turned up in droves anticipating another league championship victory after their win over rivals Neptunes a week before. They were not let down and nobody was really anticipating a Sirens shock result.

Sirens were only in the match till the end of the opening session, but from then on Sliema turned on the pressure and Sirens wilted, especially as they couldn't manage to score from their first nine man ups in their favour.

They bagged the last two but it was only in the final quarter, when they had a huge deficit to surmount. On the other hand Sliema struck in their six extra player occasions and only failed their last one very late in the match.

Josie Cachia played another blinder in goal for the champions also saving a penalty, and Jonathan Valletta in his expected swan song remaining games this season, was accurate in his shooting putting in five past Sammut in Sirens' goal.

Sliema's superiority was also shown when they lost Bogdan Rath on fouls early after the interval, but weathered out the thrid session, and then opened up on all fronts in the last quarter as they continued to increase their lead.

It was a back to back league success for the Blues, and their 31st league victory, way ahead of the next contenders Neptunes with 18 league wins.

It was Sirens who drew first blood, through David Cutajar but Sliema didn't take long to overturn the score as John Brownrigg and John Soler from a tight angle, put the champions ahead. Sirens rallied and Ryan Mock beat Cachia in-off the post.

Sliema were back in front as Rath converted his first penalty. In the second period Sliema went out with teeth bared and Sirens couldn't cope against the tide that hit them. Rajmund Fodor, Rath and Mark Meli made it 6-2. Sliema didn't stop there and Valletta Rath and Valletta again had the champions on a strong 9-2 advantage midway through the encounter.

Rath was fouled out soon after the start of the third session but when Sirens were awarded a penalty, Cachia beat down Tamas Marcz's throw. Sliema had Valletta to get them into double figures, and Paul Privitera could finally beat Cachia, as this session only produced a couple of goals.

There was more to come in the last period. Meli and Soler increased Sliema's lead, and Baranji obtained Siren's fourth goal. Valletta planted in another for the champions, who put in Ryan Coleiro in goal in lieu of the excellent Cachia. Jerome Gabarretta put his name among the goalscorers, and in between Baranji grabbed his second for Sirens.

When Sliema were awarded a third penalty, it was Valletta who set the seal on his performance, with Sliema's final goal. There was more to come from Sirens as they put in two more past Coleiro through Marcz and a Baranji penalty, as Sliema had long been celebrating their league success.

After the match the BOV Chief Officer, Peter Perotti, presented the Sliema captain, Josie Cachia, with the league championship trophy.

Sirens: J. Sammut, 3 A. Baranji, A. Galea, 1 P. Privitera, R. Scerri, 1 R. Mock, J. Borg, 1 D. Cutajar, A. Attard, C. Zammit, D. Zammit, 1 T. Marcz, C. Mercieca

Sliema: J. Cachia, 2 J. Gabarretta, N. Lubrano, 1 R. Fodor, 2 M. Meli, 2 J. Soler, D. Paolella, 1 J. Brownrigg, C. Debono, 5 J. Valletta, M. Rizzo, 3 B. Rath, R. Coleiro

Referees: I. Sciriha, A. Pascucci

Marsaxlokk's win, their first over Ta’ Xbiex this season, after a loss and a draw, gave them the first berth in the final in a game in which they showed more commitment than their opponents. Division II KO

Marsaxlokk 10

Ta’ Xbiex MP 8

(2-2)(4-2)(3-1)(1-3)

The middle sessions proved to be Marsasxlokk's assets, as they opened up a good lead before the start of the last session.

Ta’ Xbiex made a sort of comeback, but it was late in the match and time ran out on them.

Marsaxlokk had their best scorer Andrea Razzi fouled out early in the game, but compatriot Marco Bartolocci came up with four goals along with a Reinhard Attard hat trick. Kurt Engerer and Yuri Szeles also scored three goals apiece for Ta’ Xbiex.

Marsaxlokk managed a single goal from three man ups in their favour, and Ta’ Xbiex scored in two occasions from six.

Marsaxlokk: N. Xuereb, R. Calleja, A. Farrugia, A. Razzi, 1 C. Bugeja, 4 M. Bartolocci, 1 E. Bonello, M. Buttigieg, K. Grima Scott, 3 R. Attard, 1 M. Zammit, E. Arrigo

Ta’ Xbiex: A. Bianchi, S. Cachia, M. Manara, K. Falzon, G. Lubrano, 2 B. Szalma, P. Paolella, 3 K. Engerer, J. Tabone, E. Aquilina, A. Tanti, D. Pisani, 3 Y. Szeles

Referees: P. Balzan, M. Caruana