Neptunes Emirates are the new champions of Maltese waterpolo. They clinched their 19th league title last week after beating Sliema McDonald’s in a decis-ive match to break the dom­inance of the Blues, winners of the previous two national championship titles.

The league title was appropriately celebrated by the Reds at their Balluta Bay clubhouse but focus quickly turned to the BOV cup as the ‘double’ is now within sights of Sergey Markoch’s team after a rather easy passage to today’s final.

Neptunes’ opponents will be none other than Sliema, comfortable semi-final winners themselves and determined to make up for the national league upset by retaining the knock-out competition for a fourth time running.

The clash that decided the 2010 Division One league last week was a tense, but equally entertaining, contest with the balance in the end tilting Neptunes’ way.

At first, the Blues had looked the team most likely to clinch the two points and force a decider after opening a 6-3 advantage half-way through the match.

However, Sliema, the side that had famously relied so heavily on team-spirit and unyielding character to dominate the local scene in 2008 and 2009, gave way in the most crucial stages of the encounter, allowing a highly-charged Neptunes team to catch up and finish on the positive end of a final 10-9 scoreline.

At the end of it, Sliema were left to rue a series of missed man-up situations but, perhaps, Neptunes deserved their league title for showing better consistency throughout the entire campaign.

The KO final, however, presents both teams with a different prospect.

This honour depends on one match, with the team demon­strating better composure and focus on the day going on to climb on the highest step of the podium to receive the coveted cup.

This week, the two derby antagonists showed their current standing in the local game is no fluke as both annihilated their opponents on their way to reaching the final.

On Wednesday, Neptunes thrashed Sirens Ritter Sport 23-7 and two days later Sliema met no resistance from a beleagured San Ġiljan Firetech team who succumbed to a heavy 10-21 defeat in the semi-final after struggling to eliminate Exiles in the preliminary round (14-13 after extra time) earlier in the week.

Neptunes and Sliema met three times this summer with the Reds emerging victorious twice and the other derby ending all-square in the early-season preliminary round.

Last year, Sliema chalked up their 24th KO title by beating Neptunes 13-8 in the final.

Division Two final

Today’s programme at the National Pool starts with the Division Two KO final.

Like Neptunes, Marsascala will also have the double in their minds after winning the championship in style despite a rather indifferent start to the season.

Ta’ Xbiex stand in Marsascala’s way as Marco Manara’s team booked their place in the final after eliminating Marsaxlokk 19-10 in the previous round.

Marsascala had Milos Koralji in fine form in the semi-final as Anthony Farrugia’s team beat Otters 13-10.

Koralji scored five goals in that victory over the Gozitan team.

Statistics

2010 Derby Outcomes

Preliminary round
Sliema vs Neptunes - 9-9
(Sliema win President’s Cup on penalties)

Championship
Neptunes vs Sliema - 14-11
Sliema vs Neptunes - 9-10

Last Five Ko Finals
2009: Sliema vs Neptunes13-8
2008: Sliema vs Neptunes14-11
2007: Sliema vs Sirens7-5
2006: Sirens vs Neptunes7-6
2005: Neptunes vs Sliema10-9

Playing Today

Division Two KO final
4 p.m. Marsascala vs Ta’ Xbiex

Division One KO final
5.30 p.m. Neptunes vs Sliema

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