Reds a step away from clean sweep

Neptunes Vodafone are one step away from achieving a remarkable quadruple crown and a clean sweep of all 2006 honours this evening when they face 2X Sirens in the final of the Wilkinson Sword KO competition at Tal-Qroqq.

Having won the Summer and Winter League titles, along with the President's Cup in July, Sergio Afric's team could make it an en plein this year if they lift the KO trophy, thus making up for the barren years and the upsets to their rivals in top-flight waterpolo this past decade or so.

On the other side, Sirens failed to retain the league title they won in 2005 and the KO competition is their only chance of glory.

The winning spirit was still running inside John Farrugia's team as the season got along but in the crucial stages of the championship they had to do with a half-fit Tamas Marcz who was nursing a shoulder injury. The St Paul's Bay team potential was drastically reduced at that stage.

However, with the Hungarian powerhouse now looking to have edged closer to full fitness, Sirens could indeed spoil Neptunes' party even though the Reds enjoyed the upperhand in three direct clashes this summer in the national league.

In the semi-finals, Sirens had the better of a depleted Sliema Burger King side while Neptunes were too strong for neighbours San Giljan Zara.

Neptunes are the holders of the KO after beating Sliema 10-9 in last year's final. So far, they have 19 KO titles to their credit, two short of Sliema who lead the all-time winners' list with 21 successes. Sirens have won the KO six times. The last time was in 2004 when they beat Sliema 11-7 in the final.

Today
5 p.m. Division Two KO final - Exiles vs Marsascala.
6.15 p.m. Division One KO final - Sirens vs Neptunes.