SLIEMA 8
SAN ĠILJAN 11
(0-4, 3-1, 3-4, 2-2)
SLIEMA
N. Grixti, J. Gabaretta 1, L. Galea 2, D. Rizzo, K. Borg, B. Cachia, J. Cutajar, M. Mifsud, J. Brownrigg, E. Schembri, Z. Mizzi, D. Zammit 5, A. Bugeja.
SAN GILJAN
J. Tanti, N. Bugelli 1, A. Galea 1, G. Bonavia, R. Caruana 1, M. Zammit 1, B. Plumpton 1, J. Bonavia 2, J.Abela 3, N. Zammit 1, D. Zammit, N. Bonavia, G. Borg.
Refs: Massimo Angileri, Ronnie Spiteri
San Ġiljan beat Sliema 11-8 in the last round of the Enemed Cup to win the competition, the first of the 2023 season, for the third time.
The Saints took a 4-0 lead in the first session and kept their noses in front for the rest of the match, with Sliema never getting too close to the champions.
Sliema lost Ben Cachia after 80 seconds for retaliation, and San Giljan immediately took advantage with goals from Ben Plumpton, Jeremy Abela, Matthew Zammit and Nikolai Zammit.
Dino Zammit reduced the distance but Andrea Galea restored the four-goal cushion. Sliema however moved closer with three successive goals from Dino Zammit (2) and Liam Galea.
Soon after the restart, Dino Zammit reduced the arrears for the first time for Sliema. San Ġiljan were still playing sharper waterpolo and Andreas Galea restored their four-goal cushion.
But San Giljan replied with three goals in succession from Russell Caruana, Abela and Bugelli.
San Giljan were in control from then onwards, keeping Sliema at a safe distance to seal the issue at 11-6.
Other results: Birżebbuġa vs Exiles 12-8; Marsaskala vs Neptunes 8-5; Valletta vs Sirens 12-11.