Few would argue Neptunes Grimaldi’s clear edge over Sliema Fank Salt Real Estate as the two giants of local waterpolo locked horns yesterday.

The Reds emerged clear winners to wrest the knock-out prize from the Blues. It was the 22nd cup honour for them.

The match watched by a bumper crowd clad in the teams’ colours and displaying streamers, confirmed that at this point in time the Balluta Bay Reds are head and shoulders above all their sporting rivals.

Steve Camilleri, scorer of six goals, and followed closely by the great Tamas Molnar, who struck a nap hand, had no peers in striking terms even if Antonio Petkovic for the Blues also grabbed five, three of which came in dead moments of the proceedings.

Vincze Balasz, who tinkered with his formation including the two goalkeepers, had no answer to the tactics of Sergey Markoch.

The Russian’s nous was again evident as he deployed his units in different positions, including once again his insertion of Molnar in deep positions, besides flitting in his usual role as a formidable centre.

Sliema were very often five or six goals in arrears after an opening session which their opponents won 5-1. Peter Biros may not have been at his clinical best but he still scored twice and also looked efficient as a playmaker.

Clint Mercieca worked like a Trojan before being fouled out late in the game while the useful tandem of Niki Lanzon and Michele Stellini, the latter having found the opposing net in every match, netted one each.

Sliema had a rather sloppy man-up reading, scoring eight out of 14, while Neptunes’ three on seven was equally deficient.

That did not matter and neither did the definite exclusion of Ivan Basara three minutes from the end as well as the complete absence of Alex Attard from the team list.

The Reds conducted the score with consummate ease, with their opponents only restricted to minimising the damage.

At the end of the match, Peter Perotti, BOV Chief Officer, presented the cup to Neptunes’ long-serving captain Lanzon in the presence of ASA president Joe Caruana Curran.

In the previous match, Valletta McDonald’s were the masters as they outplayed an off-tune Exiles Ferretti 16-8 from the Relegation Pool.

The protagonist was Djorde Filipovic who struck seven goals followed by his compatriot from Serbia, Milos Korolija, scorer of four.

However, it was a generally collective performance from Anthony Farrugia’s boys who were off the blocks with five consecutive goals and eventually never looked back.

Summaries

Sliema 12
Neptunes 15

(1-5, 3-4, 3-3, 5-3)

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 2, N. Lubrano, T. Sullivan, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 1, J. Borg, C. Cluett, J. Brownrigg 1, N. Bugelli, I. Basara 2, A. Petkovic 5, K. Schembri.

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, M. Lanzon, M. Stellini 1, T. Agius, M. Zammit, S. Camilleri 6, J. Camilleri, A. Zarb Cousin, P. Biros 2, B. Muscat, T. Molnar 5, C. Mercieca.

Referees: M. Dalli, A. Severo.

Valletta 16
Exiles 8

(5-0, 3-4, 5-2, 3-2)

Valletta: R. Sciortino, R. Mock, M. Spiteri Staines 2, M. Korolija 4, N. Bonello Ghio, S. Cachia, D. Paolella 1, D. Abela, C. Debono, C. Zammit 1, M. Cordina 1, D. Filipovic 7, M. Rizzo.

Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi, G. Katonas 4, D. Borg, J. Spiteri Staines, K. Grixti 2, L. Sekulic 2, P. Borg, B. Lanzon, N. Paris, K. Lanzon.

Referees: S. Licari, F. Barbera.

Premier League

Last 10 winners

2014 - Neptunes
2013 - Sliema
2012 - Neptunes
2011 - Neptunes
2010 - Sliema
2009 - Sliema
2008 - Sliema
2007 - Sliema
2006 - Sirens
2005 - Neptunes