SIRENS BUILD FITNESS...... 13
SLIEMA FRANK SALT.......... 16

(4-6), (4-4), (1-2), (4-4)

Sliema Frank Salt are the winners of the ninth edition of the Enemed Cup. This time, they defeated Sirens Build Fitness 16-13 in the final, after having won the previous editions against San Ġiljan.

With this success, Sliema have drawn level with San Ġiljan as the team that has won the competition the most times - four. The victory was deserved for Giannis Katrouzanakis's team, although credit is also due to Sirens, who remained competitive even after it initially appeared that Sliema might dominate.

After Nicky Grixti saved a penalty by Dino Zammit early in the match, Sirens suffered a blow when Matthew Mifsud was excluded. Sliema managed to build a 6-2 advantage in the first session with doubles from Elijah Schembri and Sam Engerer, along with a goal by Jayden Cassar.

Sirens mounted a commendable reaction, reducing the gap to two goals by the end of the session and even drawing level early in the second session. Sliema recovered and rebuilt a 10-7 lead, although Jerome Zerafa Gregory responded with his second personal goal.

Sliema remained a step ahead in the third session but did not close the match entirely. Jayden Cassar extended the lead to 13-9 in the final session, but goals from Mattias Ortoleva and former Sliema player Andreas Galea gave the match a different complexion at that point.

However, Sirens never came within a single goal, which meant they constantly had to chase the result. Goals by Elijah Schembri and Liam Galea secured the win, and although Sirens scored twice more, Galea sealed the victory once again. At the end of the match, Sliema captain Dino Zammit was presented with the winners' trophy.

Sirens: N. Grixti, P. Serracino, A. Galea (1), G. Pace (1), J. Zerafa Gregory (2), K. Agius, M. Ortoleva (4), I. Riolo, M. Mifsud, M. Sciberras (3), Z. Mizzi (2), A. Dimech, I. Schembri, N. Rafailovic.

Sliema: B. Busuttil, S. Busuttil, L. Galea (4), J. Gambin, J. Cassar (2), B. Cachia (2), G. Gatt, D. Rizzo, E. Schembri (3), J. Cachia (3), J. Chircop, D. Zammit, Z. Dzanovic, S. Engerer (2).

Referees: Rob Bijeman, Alex de Raffaele.

NEPTUNES BEST GYMS....... 6
SAN ĠILJAN MAA DAIKIN.... 15

(1-5), (2-3), (1-3), (2-4)

San Ġiljan MAA Daikin finished this edition in third place. Although they faced Neptunes Best Gyms, the match resembled more a friendly encounter, with a poor attendance, very low intensity, and a contest dominated by San Ġiljan. One should also note that both teams were not fielding their best formations.

After Alistair Cook partially replied to a goal by Nikolai Zammit, San Ġiljan opened a 5-1 lead by the end of the first session. Neptunes reduced the margin to 5-3 early in the second session, but goals from Nikolai Zammit, Jeremy Abela, and Ben Plumpton in the final three minutes of the session put San Ġiljan 8-3 ahead.

The lead continued to grow in the third session, during which San Ġiljan removed any doubt about the direction of the match, at one point establishing an eight-goal gap. They continued to administer the final session, with Shailon Cutajar managing to score a double.

Neptunes: M. Farrugia, M. Lanzon, J. Pawley, L. Mallia, B. Lewis (1), A. Cook (1), S. Mifsud, E. Mallia (1), R. Galea, J. Borg Tabone, A. Fava (2), M. Azzopardi (1), A. Micallef, A. Buhagiar.

San Ġiljan: A. Muscat, D. Bugeja, D. Tully (2), S. Cutajar (2), R. Caruana (1), M. Zammit (1), G. Bonavia, B. Plumpton (1), J. Abela (2), N. Zammit (3), D. Zammit, N. Schiavone, R. Kaszanyi, L. Dimech (3).

Referees: Stefan Licari, Neville Mercieca.