Premier side Exiles Ferretti won the opening rubber in a possible three-match play-off against First Division champions Marsascala Mor€ in a clash to determine which team plays top class waterpolo next season.

The team from Sliema had an edge throughout both in swimming and in their execution, with five-goal Peter Borg being the main threat for the winners, followed by David Pace Lupi and James Spiteri Staines who scored four each, as did Jean Claude Cutajar and Gergo Marnitz for the losers.

A 5-2 first session lead was extended to 9-4 by midpoint and then to 13-7 at the end of the penultimate quarter.

A high-scoring final part of the game produced 13 goals with Marsascala shading Exiles 7-6 for a 19-14 score.

The second match will now be played tomorrow.

In the penultimate top group match in the Premier Division, Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate chalked up a decisive 16-8 victory over San Ġiljan All Care Insurance to wrap up second spot in the table.

This final placing was short of what the Blues expected at the start of the season, after having won the winter league title and considering the quality of their units.

On the other hand it was a dismal ending to the Saints’ campaign softened only by the introduction of some promising youngsters mostly in the latter part of the season.

The Blues drew first blood, with San Ġiljan equalising before Sliema made it 2-1 only for the Saints to level matters. Antonio Petkovic and Dino Zammit each scored twice.

Sliema were more potent in the second quarter, taking a 6-4 lead before ends were changed.

At this stage a subdued Aleksander Radovic was already on two exclusions.

A high-scoring third session again went the Blues’ way after winning it 6-4 to open a 12-8 lead into the last session.

The limelight at this point was Petkovic who brought his tally up to seven goals, thus making it to the top of the scorers’ list.

Sliema went on to finish at a canter as they scored four more through Jerome Gabarretta, who reached his poker, and Jurgen Borg.

The Saints’ unlikely reaction had long fizzled out especially after Matthew Zammit was dismissed for good probably for protesting after he had been bundled in front of the opposing goal by three opponents.

Summaries

Exiles 19
Marsascala 14

(5-2, 4-2, 4-3, 6-7)

Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi 4, G. Katonas 2, D. Borg, J. Spiteri Staines 4, K. Griscti 2, L. Sekulic, P. Borg 5, B. Lanzon, S. Galea Pace, K. Lanzon 1.

Marsascala: D. Spiteri, J.C. Cutajar 4, S. Mora 2, C. Bonello, E. Meli 2, L. Grixti, M. Pace, J. Cremona, S. Micallef, C. Mifsud 2, D. Cassar, G. Marnitz 4, J. Cremona.

Referees: M. Angileri, M. Bianchi.

San Ġiljan 8
Sliema 16

(2-2, 2-4, 4-6, 0-4)

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, D. Zammit, A. Galea 1, B. Plumpton, K. Dowling 1, M. Zammit 1, A. Radovic, A. Bianchi, K. Galea, Z. Kovacic 1, P. Fava, D. Zammit 4, F. Buhagiar.

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 4, N. Lubrano, T. Sullivan, M. Meli 1, J. Soler, J. Borg 1, C. Cluett 1, J. Brownrigg 1, N. Bugelli, I. Basara 1, A. Petkovic 7, K. Schembri.

Referees: A. De Raffaele, F. Gomez.

Playing tomorrow
18.45 Marsascala vs Exiles; 20.00 Women’s KO final Neptunes vs Sliema.

Premier League

  P W D L F A Pts
Neptunes 13 11 2 0 188 129 35
Sliema 13 7 3 3 143 129 24
San Ġiljan 14 6 0 8 164 159 18
               
Sirens 14 7 2 5 157 154 23
Valletta 14 3 1 10 141 164 10
Exiles 14 1 4 9 125 183 7

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