Rivals Neptunes Emirates and Sliema McDonald’s will be bidding to capture the first waterpolo honour this year when they go head-to-head in the best-of-three final of the BOV Winter League.

The first game is being played this evening at the National Pool (18.45) with the second scheduled for Sunday.

Although the Winter League is primarily aimed at aiding the teams’ preparations for the summer competitions, the fierce rivalry between Neptunes and Sliema and their unrelenting drive for domestic supremacy should ensure that their first real showdown in 2012 will be a keenly-contested affair.

The two heavyweights had to fight hard to secure their place in the final.

Neptunes, who won the double last summer, were trailing 4-3 in their semi-final against Balluta Bay neighbours San Ġiljan but recovered to win the last session 3-0 for a 6-4 victory.

Saturday’s win over the Saints extended Neptunes’ perfect record in this tune-up competition as the Reds had taken maximum points from their six first-round games to finish top of the table with 18 points, six more than Sliema and 3CX Exiles.

Sliema also produced a late flourish to overcome the gritty Exiles 7-6 in the other semi-final after the latter led 5-4 going into the final session.

Veteran Paul Privitera scored three goals for the Blues.

Neptunes, who beat Sliema 9-7 in their first-round clash, top the all-time Winter League winners’ list with eight titles.

Five-time winners Sliema claimed back-to-back titles in the last two years.

Programme

Today: Winter League final (game one) 18.45 Neptunes vs Sliema.

Sunday: Third/fourth place play-off 16.00 San Ġiljan vs Exiles; Winter League final (game two) 17.15 Sliema vs Neptunes.

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