Dominant Blues look to seal Division One title
Champs Exiles expect easy match tomorrow
Sliema McDonald's are favourites to pick up the points needed and wrap up their 30th championship success when they face San Ġiljan Tropicana Juices in today's main match.
The Blues, who beat outgoing champions Neptunes Vodafone 12-10 in a thrilling contest last week, have a comfortable five-point buffer over the Reds and require just one point from this match against San Ġiljan to be declared 2008 champions.
On paper, Sliema should finish the job without a hitch. Igor Gochanin's men are the top team in the division as they boast a perfect record of 10 wins from as many matches.
In Raymond Fodor and Otto Frikk they have two top-notch foreign players who made the difference when it mattered most.
A clear example was last week's decisive clash against Neptunes in which the Hungarian duo were key figures for the leaders, scoring six goals between them.
San Ġiljan, on their part, have yet to pick their first point in the second phase of the summer league and, more worrying today for coach Silvio Borg, is the fact that his team has failed to cause any trouble to Sliema in any of the two meetings against them this summer. Sliema cruised away comfortable winners on both occasions - 14-8 and 15-8.
An unlikely Sliema slip-up will open up a new opportunity for Neptunes to get back in the title race with victory against Sirens tomorrow.
The Reds will be looking to return to winning ways after the upset in the derby. Sergio Afric's men failed to produce their best form when it counted most, committing a series of mistakes that were duly punished by the more focused Blues.
Tomorrow, Neptunes cannot afford such mishaps against a Sirens side who rediscovered their winning form last week when they beat San Ġiljan 14-6 to move just two points behind the Reds.
Marco Baldinotti's Sirens will be fancying their chances of pouncing on the fragile Neptunes players as they push their charge for the runners-up spot in the standings.
While the destiny of the National League close to be resolved, one title that has already been settled is the Division Two champion- ship.
Last week, Exiles made sure of the top placing after their 8-5 win over Marsaxlokk gave them an unassailable lead with a game in hand.
Tomorrow, Exiles will be celebrating their success in the match against bottom-placed Otters.
The other Division Two match this weekend pits together Marsascala Ocean and Sky and Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise.
Programme
Today: U-19 5 p.m. Neptunes vs Exiles. Division One 6.15 p.m. San Ġiljan vs Sliema.
Tomorrow: Division Two 4 p.m. Exiles vs Otters; 5.15 p.m. Marsascala vs Ta' Xbiex. Division One 6.30 p.m. Neptunes vs Sirens.