Saints almost there as leading trio get added incentive

San Giljan Zara are expected to confirm their place among the big boys of local waterpolo this week when the last four matches from the Preliminary Round are played between today and tomorrow.

The Saints are practically through as the goals for and against columns shift the balance in their favour compared to nearest rivals Marsascala Breakers and Exiles, both lagging two points behind Joe Attard's team.

San Giljan only need a draw from their match against bottom-placed Marsaxlokk Freeport to secure Division One status for the rest of the summer after a lapse of several years.

However, the best attraction of the week should be tomorrow's two fixtures where cup interest will be an added incentive for the leading three teams in the standings to outwit their opponents.

Precious league points and the President's Cup will be at stake when champions 2X Sirens take on 2005 KO winners Neptunes Vodafone while Sliema Burger King start favourites to beat Marsascala Breakers and claim the Sportswriters Association Cup in the process.

Unbeaten Sirens are the sole leaders in the standings after their victory over the misfiring Marsascala.

Neptunes never lived up to expectations against a solid Sliema last week. The 15-12 win in the derby was the perfect response from Marco Manara's team after a poor outing against Sirens in their previous match.

Last year, Sliema won the President's Cup after beating Sirens 9-4 while Neptunes claimed the Sportswriters Association Cup after an 8-7 extra-time win over Marsascala. At normal time the score was five-all.

If no victor emerges after normal time, the two teams take a point each for league purposes but play extra-time and a penalty shoot-out, if required, to determine a winner in the cup contest.

San Giljan all but booked their place among the top four following their 13-10 victory over Exiles.

Exiles will now look to collect more points ahead of the Division Two championship,with the addition of Gozitan side Otters, by beating Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise in today's second match.

Fixtures

Today
6.30 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs San Giljan
7.45 p.m. Ta' Xbiex vs Exiles

Tomorrow
6 p.m. Marsascala vs Sliema
7.15 p.m. Neptunes vs Sirens