With Dinamo Moscow already assured of a place in the next stage of the LEN Cup, alongside the French team Dauphins, yesterday’s match at the National Pool between the Russians and Valletta WPC was only of academic interest to the visitors and another opportunity for the Maltese to gain international experience.

Nevertheless, and as expected, the Muscovites underlined their superiority when fending off the local selection’s challenge to finish comfortable winners with the third session being decisive.

Dinamo drove to good attack when in possession, with the Maltese players caught between the crosswinds either going for zone or man-to-man marking.

However, Karl Izzo’s team once again showed skills with smooth shifting of the ball, a good rearguard and combative spirit combined with staying power before their opponents’ surge in that third quarter.

Dinamo took a 3-0 lead but goals from Niki Lanzon and two from the impressive Matthew Zammit, who eventually obtained a hat-trick, reduced the deficit to 4-3 before ends were changed on 5-3.

Four Dinamo goals without reply in the third session put paid to any hopes the Maltese may have had as two conversions apiece in the last quarter maintained the six-goal advantage for the Moscow team.

Valletta WPC 5
Dinamo Moscow 11

(1-3, 2-2, 0-4, 2-2)

Valletta: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, J. Gabarretta, T. Sullivan, M. Meli, M. Zammit 3, J. Spiteri Staines, J. Camilleri 1, J. Brownrigg, A. Attard, J.C. Cutajar, D. Zammit, D. Camilleri.

Referees: M. Raz, P. Abramovic.

Other result
Dinamo Tbilisi vs Dauphins 9-11 (0-1, 2-2, 3-5, 4-3).