Unlike the other top teams, Neptunes Grimaldi have earned a reputation this season of becoming the bete noir of Sirens Ritter Sport.

A routine 14-10 victory over the northerners, which was more emphatic than the score indicates, earned the holders a place in the BOV knock-out final against either San Ġiljan or Valletta who meet today in the other semi-final.

The Reds were always in the driving seat, very often stretching their lead to six goals.

Their power play with six-goal Steve Camilleri their main weapon had as its base continuous shifting of positions and rapid transfers of the ball, with their rearguard giving little away.

They successfully defended eight of their 12 man-down sets even if Sirens were accomplices with their imprecision.

Zoran Mustur’s team netted eight on 11 extra-man sets.

The Reds’ coach had to rely on his expertise when revolving his units in order not to encroach on his usual nine-man base. In fact, Ivan Krapic, who was already on two exclusions in the first session, was constantly in and out of the water before being finally fouled our early in the last quarter.

That mattered little as Sirens were unable to threaten Neptunes. In the end, they could only get some consolation when trimming the deficit to four goals.

In a Division One match, Marsaxlokk Fischer picked maximum points when thrashing Otters Nivea 21-9 to join Marsascala at the top of the table on 22 points, with the latter side having played one game less.

It was all Marsaxlokk after they trailed 3-2 in the opening quarter as conversions were regular, with nine of Marsaxlokk’s players featuring on the scorers’ list, once more led by Ivan Vuksanovic.

Summaries

Neptunes 14
Sirens 10

(3-1, 3-2, 4-2, 4-5)

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, M. Castillo, M. Stellini 2, T. Agius, I. Krapic 1, S. Camilleri 6, J. Camilleri 1, M. Cutajar, P. Biros, B. Lanzon, S. Xerri de Caro, C. Mercieca 3.

Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Mizzi, C. Presciutti 4, G. Pace, M. Grech, C. Kiss 3, M. Caruana 1, D. Cutajar 1, J. Napier 1, E. Aquilina, L. Caruana, A. Sammut, J. Sciberras.

Referees: P. Balzan, F. Brasilano.

Otters 9
Marsaxlokk 21

(3-2, 2-5, 3-7, 1-7)

Otters Nivea: R. Bonnici, M. Borg Millo, M. Paris, L. Gialanze, F. Kljajevic 2, E. Meli 2, K. Scicluna, G. Mizzi 1, N. Paris 2, D. Borg Millo, D. Dimech, S. Aksentijevic 2, M. Xerri.

Marsaxlokk Fischer: A. Xuereb, C. Spiteri De Barro 3, M. Korolija 3, A. Galea 1, C. Gialanze 1, C. Bugeja 1, N. Portelli 2, I. Vuksanovic 6, R. Xerri 2, M. Lanzon 2, J. Xerri de Caro, J. Cremona.

Referees: S. Licari, L. Barletta.

First Division

Playing today
Division One league: 18.15 Ta’ Xbiex vs Marsascala.
BOV Premier KO semi-final: 19.30 Valletta McDonalds vs San Ġiljan Crystal Finance Investments.