Neptunes 8
San Giljan 9
(2-3, 2-3, 1-1, 3-2)
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, J. Muscat, L. Calleja, G. Pace 2, S. Busuttil, J. Spiteri Staines, S. Camilleri 3, J. Camilleri 1, J. Abela 1, M. Farrugia, S. Stellini, S. Gialanze 1, B. Busuttil.
San Giljan: J. Tanti, K. Tanti, A. Galea 3, D. Ciantar, M. Mannino, M. Zammit 1, B. Plumpton 2, J. Bonavia, Z. Micallef, Darren Zammit, P. Fava, Dino Zammit 3, G. Vassallo.
Referees: Ronnie Spiteri and Mario Dalli
San Giljan were yesterday crowned champions for the 11th time in their history after beating outgoing champions Neptunes in a pulsating second leg of the final.
San Giljan had won the first leg 11-5 on Thursday.
There is no doubt that San Giljan are worthy winners after winning all their matches throughout the season.
Apart from yesterday’s hard-earned win, San Giljan won the rest of the matches during the season rather easily, showing all their power and worth.
But yesterday, almost against all odds, Neptunes gave their neighbours from Balluta a good run for their money.
Neptunes kept the pace till the very end, always coming back at their opponents but they failed to at least draw the match and force a penalty shoot-out.
Dino Zammit from a penalty opened the account for San Giljan in the first minute of the game, but Stevie Camilleri made it 1-1 soon afterwards.
San Giljan were back in front when Andreas Galea scored with a man-up situation, but again Stevie Camilleri levelled matters.
Just before the end of the session, Jake Muscat was sent off a second time and Dino Zammit again put San Giljan in front.
In the second quarter, Dino Zammit made it 4-2 and soon after a blow for Neptunes as Jake Muscat was fouled out.
San Giljan scored two goals in succession through Andreas Galea with a man up, and through Matthew Zammit who made it 6-2.
With a four-goal cushion, San Giljan were expected to cruise easily to victory but Neptunes had other ideas.
Jeremy Abela and Gabriel Pace made it 4-6, both goals scored with San Giljan having a man out of the pitch.
The third session was the least spectacular with Ben Plumpton increasing the lead for San Giljan and with Jordan Camilleri reducing the gap.
At the start of the fourth and final quarter, Andreas Galea made it 8-5, but Neptunes still had some fire still in store as Gabriel Pace and Sam Gialanze made it 7-8 with three and a half minutes to play.
Ben Plumpton made it 9-7, but Stevie Camilleri again gave Neptunes some hope with 50 seconds to play.
Neptunes regained possession with twenty seconds to go but lost the ball half pitch as San Giljan controlled the final seconds to clinch a deserved title.