SLIEMA FRANK SALT............... 9

SAN ĠILJAN JP PROJECTS...... 12

(3-5), (2-3), (3-1), (1-3)

 

San Ġiljan JP Projects started the feast week by winning the knock-out for a fourth consecutive year. Another show of force by the champions as they head into the play-offs as favourites to win all the cups this year after securing the Enemed Cup, the Winter League and the President’s Cup.

Sliema were never in the lead during the game but fought bravely to stay in the game several times. They still have to search for the killer instinct to be decisive in crucial moments in these direct encounters. Now their only hope of saving the season is by having revenge in the league play-offs against the champions.

San Ġiljan had to work hard to finish the first session ahead. On three occasions, Sliema responded after their goal until Maro Jokovic and youngster Russell Caruana handed San Ġiljan a 5-3 lead. Jokovic extended the lead to three goals in the second session until Dino Zammit and Liam Galea cut the deficit to only a goal. That lasted only until Jokovic and Aaron Younger kept Sliema at a distance.

Sliema were still in the game but needed a bold reaction in the third session. They managed to recover the gap thanks to a penalty by Dmitrii Kholod and a quick double by Jamie Gambin. They had the opportunity to take the lead but missed a crucial man-up and San Ġiljan reacted immediately to regain the lead through a goal by Younger.

With a 9-8 scoreline before the beginning of the last session, it was all to play for. Left-hander Nikolai Zammit’s goal started the road to victory for San Ġiljan. Sliema weren’t aggressive enough to recover the two-goal distance and Younger’s brace secured the win for San Ġiljan. After the game, San Ġiljan captain Matthew Zammit was presented with the trophy by BOV Official Ernest Agius in the presence of ASA President Karl Izzo.

Sliema: N. Grixti, J. Gabarretta, L. Galea (1), J. Gambin (3), Z. Mizzi (1), B. Cachia (1), J. Cutajar, M. Mifsud, J. Brownrigg, D. Kholod (2), A. Prlainovic, Di. Zammit (1), A. Bugeja, E. Schembri, S. Engerer

San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, N. Bugelli (1), A. Galea (1), B. Plumpton (1), M. Jokovic (3), M. Zammit, J. Bonavia, A. Younger (4), J. Abela, N. Zammit (1), Da. Zammit, R. Caruana (1), G. Borg, G. Bonavia, N. Bonavia

Referees: Stefano Pinato, Massimo Angileri

 

WATERPOLO – BOV KO FIRST DIVISION

Moskov shines as Marsaxlokk land the First Division KO

 

BIRŻEBBUĠA FREEPORT......... 10

MARSAXLOKK BROWN’S........ 15

(3-3), (2-4), (3-4), (2-4)

 

A morale booster for Marsaxlokk Brown’s Pharma in their quest to claim the double in the First Division. Foreigners Nikola Moskov and Sasa Misic were again the heroes for Marsaxlokk scoring 80% of the goals between them.

Birżebbuġa couldn’t build on a promising start and couldn’t grasp the control of the game after Marsaxlokk took the lead for the first time. They were simply not good enough on the day and must regroup ahead of the league play-offs.

Birżebbuġa started on a high scoring three times at the beginning of the game but Marsaxlokk reacted quickly and diminished the gap by equalising before the end of the first session. Birżebbuġa tried again and this time gained a double advantage through Peter Borg and Darko Brguljan. This time, Marsaxlokk’s reaction not only resulted in equalising but they took the lead for the first time, ending the session 7-5 in front.

Nikola Moskov doubled the gap in the beginning of the third session, scoring twice to give his team a 9-5 lead. Birżebbuġa stepped up their rhythm to tried and recover and cut the deficit to two goals until Moskov kept his team 11-8 ahead before the last session.

Birżebbuġa went twice two goals adrift in the last session but Moskov continued to add to his tally and faded Birżebbuġa’s hopes of recovering. Misic sealed the win with a goal late in the game. Later as captain, he received the winners trophy from BOV Official Ernest Agius in the presence of ASA President Karl Izzo.

Birżebbuġa: M. Sladden, P. Borg (1), N. Cassar, B. Grech, D. Brguljan (3), M. Manara, S. Bezzina, D. Cutajar, B. Erdelyi (3), K. Tanti, G. Mannino, M. Curmi, C.D. Borg, J. Sciberras (3), D. Farrugia

Marsaxlokk: Mi. Farrugia, M. Lanzon, B. Zammit, Ma. Farrugia (1), N. Moskov (8), J. Valletta (1), M. Zammit, M. Aquilina, R. Galea, S. Misic (4), J. Borg Tabone, L. Mallia, S. Mifsud, A. Cook (1), S. Mifsud

Referees: Peter Balzan, Arnaldo Petronilli

 

WATERPOLO – BOV WOMEN’S KO

Sliema edge Sirens to win the Women’s KO

 

SLIEMA ARKADIA........... 7

SIRENS C&J BONAVIA.... 6

(1-3), (3-0), (2-0), (1-3)

 

Sliema Arkadia are the BOV Women’s Knock-Out winners after defeating Sirens C&J Bonaiva by a slim margin. All in all, it was a deserved win for Sliema as they were slightly better than their opponents. Sirens will be disappointed by the number of man-ups missed in crucial moments.

Sirens had the best possible start. Zaira Bartolo, Elaya Montfort, Martha Perici Ferrante gave Dale Dowling’s team a 3-0 lead until Eyla Schembri pulled one back for Sliema.

This goal inspired Sliema as they turned the tables in the second session with goals from Louise Cachia from man-up, Francesca Paolella and Yara Bonett to give them a 4-3 lead.

Sliema’s advantage stretched to 6-3 in the third session as again Sirens failed to take their opportunities and Bonett and Cachia scored again for Edward Aquilina’s team.

Sirens tried to salvage the game in the last session. Zaira Bartolo scored twice in less than a minute midway through the session, but Louise Cachia’s goal immediately kept Sirens two goals adrift. Elisa Amato’s goal from man-up was too little too late as Sliema controlled the last seconds of the game. After the match, Sliema captain Louise Cachia was presented with the trophy.

Sliema: K. Plumpton, K. Camilleri, G. Zammit, Y. Vassallo, A. Restall, L. Cachia (3), F. Paolella (1), S. Camilleri, K. Cutajar, E. Schembri (1), Y. Bonett (2), A. Friggieri, S. Bugeja, L. Axiak, H. Camilleri

Sirens: A. Amato, E. Montfort (1), E. Amato (1), C. Amato, M.  Perici Ferrante (1), S. Abela, K. Navarro, K. Agius, D. Micallef, K. Attard, Z. Bartolo (3), Z. Cutajar Licari, K. Agius, C. Zammit, N. Agius

Referees: Alex de Raffaele, Attilio Paoletti