Titanic battle goes Blues' way

Sliema 12
Neptunes 11
(2-3, 1-2, 5-2, 4-4)

The clash of the south, between Marsaxlokk Freeport and Marsascala Ocean and Sky, developed into a close affair after Marsaxlokk twice held a three-goal advantage in the third session.

Neighbours Marsascala, once again, were without the Italian Fabio Valenti, an absence which had a lasting negative effect on the scoring potential of the team.

All in all, though, they had no answer to Sergei Frolov, scorer of four goals. Neither did they possess the craft and speed to outwit their opponents, who only twice went behind in the opening session.

Marsaxlokk then took over, only for Marsascala to neutralise on 7-7 at the beginning of the fourth session.

But then again Marsaxlokk scored twice before their opponents made it 9-8. It was a trifle too late for Marsascala to salvage the result.

Sliema
J. Cachia, M. Toth, E. Aquilina 3, R. Fodor 2, M. Meli, J. Soler 2, D. Paolella, J. Brownrigg 1, C. Debono 2, J. Valletta 1, J. Spiteri Staines, O. Frick, J. Gabaretta, J. Falzon 1, R. Coleiro.

Neptunes
N. Gouder, A. Decker 2, J. Camilleri, K. Galea 2, E. Cachia, I. Milakovic 1, S. Camilleri 3, S. Gravina, D. Camilleri 1, N. Lanzon, J. Paris, M. Stellini, M. Pisani 2, T. Agius, B. Sciortino.

Referees M. Dalli, P. Gomez.

Marsasxlokk 9
Marsascala 8
(2-2, 2-0, 3-4, 2-2)

Top heavyweights Neptunes Vodafone and Sliema McDonald's met for the first time this season in a match valid for the National League title, with the verdict going the Blues' way in an absorbing duel of unending drama.

The expectations of a nerve-tingling battle between these primary exponents of local waterpolo were fully vindictated. It was a veritable battle of wits and muscle, tempered by spasms of nerves and also moments of supreme skill.

Neptunes looked as if they would hold their own as they held sway in the first two sessions when they took a 5-3 lead. They extended that advantage to 6-3 at the beginning of the third quarter, but then the Blues, as is customary of them, suddenly went into overdrive to score four quick goals and take a 7-6 lead before starting the last session 8-7 ahead.

But, the intensity of this contest went up by several notches as Neptunes neutralised a 9-7 leeway to keep responding every time the Blues went in front.

It was indeed battle royal which had both colourful sets of supporters on edge right till the end. It may have been harsh on the Reds to finish on the losing end but they will surely lament two missed penalties which may have had a lasting bearing on the proceedings even if credit should be given to goalkeeper Josie Cachia.

On the Blues' part, the signs of resilience, vitality and recuperative powers were there for all to see.

Indeed, it looks as if these two giants of the Maltese game are destined to fight it out until the last drop of blood. Yesterday, the final whistle found Sliema in front.

Match statistics of goalscorers, man-ups and fouled-out players paled into insignificance so intense was this contest.

Today: 4 p.m. Otters vs Marsascala; 5.15 p.m. Exiles vs Ta' Xbiex; 6.30 p.m. Sirens vs San Ġiljan.

Marsaxlokk
R. Bonnici, S. Cachia 1, G. Attard 1, A. Farrugia, K. Farrugia 1, C. Bugeja, D. Schembri, D. Vankevich 1, S. Frolov 4, K. Grima Scott, G. Ghirxi, M. Zammit 1, C. Sciortino, E. Bonello, M. Buttigieg.

Marsascala
I. Bugeja, C. Gialanze, A. Tringali 1, M. Borg Spiteri 2, L. Grixti, J. Licari 2, J. Cremona 2, S. Micallef 1, R. Cutajar, D. Cassar, J.C. Cutajar, S. Farrugia.

Referees M. Caruana, M. Angileri.