Reds look to save season as Blues eye the double

The summer waterpolo competitions, organised by the Aquatic Sports Organisation, will come to a close today and what a way to wrap up the 2008 calendar with the great antagonists of the game, Sliema McDonald's and Neptunes Vodafone, clashing against each other with the BOV KO trophy at stake.

The last fixtures from the National Championship were played last week with Sliema, the undisputed champions, seeing their 100 per cent record falling in the very last hurdle when they were beaten by Neptunes 9-6 after 12 consecutive victories.

The Blues still marked their 30th league championship in style as they had already wrapped up the title with two weeks to spare. However, that upset to Neptunes must have sparked them back into action as in midweek Igor Gocanin's men trounced San Ġiljan 19-9 to book their place in today's final.

After missing out on the league, which they had won in 2006 and 2007, Neptunes shifted focus on the KO, the second ASA major honour of the summer. They got into the groove by denting Sliema's record in the league, first, and then winning a tough semi-final against Sirens Centro Casalinga on Thursday.

Against Sirens, Reds' coach Sergio Afric had to do without foreign player Ivan Zanetic but Steve Camilleri, who moves to Rari Nantes Bogliasco in the Italian league for season 2008/09, was on the bench after a long lay-off. He could be tempted to play a part in today's final if things are not going Neptunes' way.

Another bumper crowd is expected at the National Pool this evening.

The Neptunes fans will be urging their boys to victory to wrest the KO title from Sliema's hands and narrow the gap in the all-time KO cup winners' list.

The Reds won the KO 19 times and Sliema 22. San Ġiljan and Sirens were seven times winners of the competition, the same as Valletta United who were again out of action this summer.

2007 final

In last year's final, Sliema beat Sirens 7-5. The Blues will be looking to retain the trophy which would mean a league and cup double. Sliema were the last team to achieve that honour in 2002.

Meanwhile, today's programme takes off with another final as Exiles and holders Ta' Xbiex clash for the Division Two KO trophy.

Exiles won the championship in convincing style this summer and another honour for them would be a feather in the cap for coach Joseph Caruana Dingli and his team of dedicated officials at the Sliema club.

Exiles eliminated lowly Otters in the semi-final but Ta' Xbiex had to clear two hurdles to reach the final following victories of Marsascala (10-6), in the preliminary round, and Marsaxlokk (13-7) in the semi-final on Thursday.

Last KO 10 winners

2007 Sliema
2006 Sirens
2005 Neptunes
2004 Sirens
2003 Neptunes
2002 Sliema
2001 Sirens
2000 Sirens
1999 Sirens
1998 Sliema

Playing today

Division Two KO final: 5.15 p.m. Exiles vs Ta' Xbiex.

Division One KO final: 6.30 p.m. Sliema vs Neptunes.