Fatigued Malta succumb to Slovenia to finish sixth overall

Malta 6
Slovenia 11
(1-3, 3-2, 0-2, 2-4)

Malta wrapped up their commitments in the European 'B' Championships with an 11-6 defeat to Slovenia in yesterday's fifth/sixth place play-off.

Already assured of their place in the qualifying round for the European Championships, to be played in Zagreb next year, Malta were keen to end their highly positive participation in this year's Lugano tournament on a winning note but yesterday's match proved a bridge too far for Sergio Afric's men.

Fatigue clearly took its toll on the Maltese players whose collective performance faded in the final two sessions of yesterday's play-off against Slovenia, who lost 9-7 to the Netherlands in Friday's quarter-finals. Malta slumped to a 10-4 defeat to eventual winners Turkey in their last-eight match.

After losing the first session 3-1, Malta fought back in the second to narrow the deficit to one goal, 5-4, at the halfway stage. Maltese hopes of claiming fifth spot in the final classification all but vanished in the third session as Slovenia scored twice without reply to pull three goals clear, 7-4.

Slovenia, who like Malta had finished third in their group, increased their winning margin to five goals after prevailing 4-2 in the fourth and final session.

Malta, who also paid the price for their poor record in man-up situations yesterday, thus finished sixth among 12 nations in the European 'B' Championships.

Niki Lanzon led the scoring charts for Malta yesterday with four goals while Paul Privitera and Steve Camilleri netted one each.

Austin Sammut, the ASA president, hailed the gallant efforts of the Maltese team in Lugano but called for a bold drive by all the stakeholders in local waterpolo to boost the level of the national side.

"Finishing sixth in the European 'B' Championships is a very prestigious result for our country, especially considering the disadvantages we face at international level," Sammut said in a statement.

"These championships have highlighted Malta's shortcomings at this level. There is certainly scope to restructure and reschedule our national league. Greater emphasis should be laid on the national team."

The ASA contingent is due to return to Malta this afternoon at 1.

Malta: J. Cachia, A. Borg Cole, J. Gabaretta, S. Camilleri 1, C. Debono, M. Pisani, P. Privitera 1, J. Valletta, M. Stellini, J. Soler, M. Meli, J. Brownrigg, N. Lanzon 4.

Referees: J. Butz (Netherlands), G. Kramer (Switzerland).

Turkey win final

Turkey overcame France 8-5 in yesterday's final. There was nothing between the two teams in the opening two sessions, 4-4 the score at the halfway mark, but Turkey overpowered the French in the final two quarters,winning both 1-0 and 3-1.

The Netherlands claimed third place after a 9-4 win over Great Britain.

Results: 9-10th place - Denmark vs Ukraine 13-7; 7-8th place Belarus vs Georgia 15-13; 5-6th place - Malta vs Slovenia 6-11. 3-4th place - Netherlands vs Great Britain 9-4. Final - Turkey vs France 8-5.