Showing sharper qualities and better blocking in deep positions, Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate outsmarted holders Neptunes Emirates to land their eighth Winter League title.

It was a deserved success for the Blues who managed to summon all their knowhow to leave the Reds puffing and panting.

In truth, Neptunes, who like Sliema had won their previous four matches, never really pulled all their strings and after finding themselves three goals adrift with the last session to go, they were unable to turn the match around.

Steve Camilleri, back from Italy, appeared stale and lacked his usual biting instincts, even if he was well-supervised throughout.

So were most of his team-mates who certainly did not relish Sliema’s very rigid and effective press.

Incidentally, these tactics proved costly for the Blues who suffered nine expulsions from which the Balluta team converted three times. On their part, Sliema netted twice on four numerical advantages.

It was all square in the first session, after which Sliema took a 4-3 lead before ends were changed.

The Blues forged decisively ahead in the third quarter to lead 7-4, leaving their opponents with a mountain to climb, given the Reds’ dismal form and Sliema’s efficiency on the day.

Neptunes shaded the last session but the result had been sewn up with time to spare. For Sliema, John Brownrigg was the chief marksman with a hat-trick.

At the end of the match, Peter Perotti, the BOV chief officer, presented the cup to Sliema captain John Soler in the presence of Chris Agius, Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, and Joe Caruana Curran, ASA president.

Prior to the big match, San Ġiljan All Care Insurance trounced Valletta 15-3 to make sure of the third place.

In the preceding encounter, Division One winter champions Marsascala did likewise, dismissing bottom-placed Ta’ Xbiex 16-3 to end their commitments with maximum points from six outings.

Summaries

Sliema 9
Neptunes 7

(2-2, 2-1, 3-1, 2-3)

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 1, N. Lubrano 2, T. Sullivan, M. Meli 1, J. Soler, J. Borg 1, C. Cluett 1, J. Brownrigg 3, A. Attard, A. Agius, N. Bugelli, K. Schembri.

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 2, G. Mizzi, M. Stellini 1, T. Agius 1, M. Lanzon, S. Camilleri, J. Camilleri 1, A. Zarb Cousin 1, L. Gialanze, K. Debattista, S. Xerri De Caro, C. Mercieca 1, B. Dougall.

Refs: M. Angileri, P. Balzan.

San Ġiljan 15
Valletta 3

(4-1, 6-0, 3-1, 2-1)

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri De Barro 1, A. Galea 1, Karl Galea 3, K. Dowling 2, M. Zammit 2, Keith Galea 1, A. Bianchi 1, J. Sammut, P. Fava, Dino Zammit 4, Darren Zammit, K. Mock.

Valletta: R. Sciortino, R. Mock 1, M. Spiteri Staines, M. Rizzo, N. Bonello Ghio, S. Cachia, M. Cordina, C. Zammit, C. Debono 1, R. Scerri, D. Paolella 1, J.C. Farrugia, D. Abela.

Refs: A. De Raffaele, R. Spiteri.

Marsascala16
Ta’ Xbiex 3

(4-0, 3-1, 6-0, 3-2)

Marsascala: D. Spiteri, C. Mifsud, R. Calleja, C. Bonello 2, E. Meli 4, L. Grixti 1, K. Rizzo Naudi 3, J. Busuttil, S. Micallef 4, G. Desira Buttigieg, D. Cassar 1, M. Pace 1, J. Cremona, J. Bajada.

Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, L. Pace, M. Camilleri, L. Ciantar, J. Cauchi, S. Aquilina, C. Pace, K. Camilleri, E. Gravina, R. Attard, O. Zammit 3, J. Micallef.

Refs: M. Angileri, P. Giordano.

Final standings

Premier Division

First Division