Rather than being the moment of truth for both teams, the final clash of the season turned out to be a celebratory event for San Ġiljan Crystal Finance after they were confirmed Malta champions last Wednesday for the ninth title victory in their history, five as Balluta and four as San Ġiljan.

Their match against Neptunes Grimaldi turned out to be insignificant in effective terms and it was only a jubilant occasion for their ardent fans as yesterday they turned out in throngs at the National Pool, all colourful and radiant.

The result was irrelevant even if they did not relish ending on a low point.

In the words of their coach Marko Orlovic, ‘it was a stupendous season. The lads had self-belief and accomplished their task of sealing a memorable summer. They should all be proud of this year’s double success.

“Now we should continue having the club’s flag flying on the highest mast,” the Saints’ technician said with an air of satisfaction, obviously playing down his team’s defeat.

Indeed, nothing much should be read into Neptunes’ victory which was a hollow one and only served to restore a little of their lost pride after ending their summer season empty-handed.

They will certainly rue last Wednesday’s patchy performance resulting in a defeat against Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate, even if one may argue that the Saints would have been in a different frame of mind had they been facing a must win match yesterday.

It could have certainly worked both ways with San Giljan as well as Neptunes feeling the pressure of a do-or-die clash.

As it turned out the result did not matter and the Saints’ celebratory mood during and after the match, only dented by some obscene chanting, reached its peak when Anthony Scicluna, BOV chief officer, presented the champions cup to San Ġiljan’s captain Matthew Zammit in the presence of ASA president Joe Caruana Curran.

It was certainly a summer to remember for the Balluta Bay Saints.

In the previous promotion/relegation play-off, Exiles Ferretti had no trouble at all in seeing off Marsascala Nutrition Empire who were without Matyas Pasztor and Bela Torok and moreover had Matthew Pace and Clyde Bonello retiring inexplicably midway through.

The match was highlighted by nine goals scored by Exiles’ Marko Cuk.

Tomorrow’s second play-off in a best-of-three series should be a mere formality.

Summaries

Neptunes 11
San Ġiljan 8

(1-1, 6-1, 3-3, 1-3)

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, M. Castillo, M. Stellini, T. Agius 1, I. Krapic 2, S. Camilleri 4, J. Camilleri, L. Calleja, P. Biros 2, B. Lanzon, S. Xerri de Caro, C. Mercieca 1.

San Ġiljan: J. Sammut, P. Borg, A. Galea, B. Vapenski 5, G. Molina, M. Zammit 1, K. Galea, Darren Zammit, B. Plumpton, A. Cousin 1, P. Fava, Dino Zammit 1, D. Spiteri.

Referees: F. Gomez, M. Bianchi.

Exiles 18
Marsascala 4

(5-1, 4-1, 3-1, 6-1)

Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi 2, R. Blary, J. Spiteri Staines, M. Paris, L. Galea 1, K. Grixti 1, S. Galea Pace, A. Bianchi 1, M. Cuk 9, P. Paris, K. Lanzon 3.

Marsascala: B. Muscat, J.C. Cutajar 1, M. Pace, C. Bonello 1, F. Borg, L. Grixti, K. Navarro, J. Cremona 1, S. Micallef, K. Cremona, D. Cassar 1, C. Mifsud, K. Schembri.

Referees: P. Balzan, M. Angileri.

Final standings