Sooner or later Neptunes Grimaldi’s five-year reign as Malta champions had to come to an end.

Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate sealed their fate yesterday when they produced some perky fare to win 12-10. The result means that the league title was handed to San Ġiljan in absentia.

The Blues dominated most of the proceedings as they tore through their opponents’ rearguard like a hot knife cutting through butter. Their five on nine extra-man success rate was only one facet of their superiority, with their coach, Dejan Milakovic, revolving his units more profusely than his counterpart Zoran Mustur.

The stark reality is that Neptunes, besides underperforming, seemed a spent force, mentally and especially physically. In the modern game it is very difficult to make use of just nine units. The result is that the top order players are exhausted.

Moreover, their poor five on 15 scoring statistics let them down.

The crucial point was Sliema’s determination. This was also evident in the fact that despite having Nikola Dedovic fouled out in the third session, to be joined by John Soler later in the same quarter, their grit did not in any way subside.

On the upside, Neptunes did hint a comeback in the third quarter thanks chiefly to their best player, Steve Camilleri, scorer of five goals. However, that was all they could muster.

Now their much awaited clash against new champions San Giljan on Saturday has been relegated to a dead rubber, with prestige being an insignificant factor in a season that promised so much for the Balluta Bay Reds but rendered nil results.

Marsascala double

Four days after winning the First Division title in a decider against the same opponents, Marsascala Nutrition Empire made it a double delight when they beat Marsaxlokk Fischer 10-8 to land the knock-out prize, yesterday.

It was a merited victory for Pierre Borg’s team. Apart from brief periods in the first and third sessions they held the upperhand scorewise.

With the sides sharing 14 goals by the end of the third quarter, Marsascala managed to steady their ship when pulling clear in that last part of the game, albeit by two lengths.

The last conversion came from hat-trick hitter Stephen Micallef.

Marsascala 10
Marsaxlokk 8

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

Marsascala: K. Schembri, J.C. Cutajar 2, M. Pace, C. Bonello, B. Torok 2, L. Grixti 1, K. Navarro, J. Cremona, S. Micallef 4, M. Pasztor 1, D. Cassar, C. Mifsud, B. Muscat.

Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, C. Spiteri De Barro, M. Korolija 4, A. Galea, C. Gialanze, C. Bugeja, I. Vuksanovic 3, R. Scerri, M. Lanzon, J. Xerri de Caro 1, J. Cremona.

Referees: P. Balzan, G. LoDico.

Sliema 12
Neptunes 10

(2-2, 6-1, 2-6, 2-1)

Sliema Frank Salt: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 1, N. Bugelli 1, T. Sullivan 1, M. Meli, J. Soler 2, M. Spiteri Staines, C. Cluett, J. Brownrigg 2, M. Bodegas 3, M. Fenech, N. Dedovic 2, Z. Sciberras.

Neptunes Grimaldi: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, M. Castillo, M. Stellini, T. Agius 2, I. Krapic, S. Camilleri 5, J. Camilleri 2, M. Azzopardi, P. Biros, B. Lanzon, S. Xerri de Caro, C. Mercieca.

Referees: M. Dalli, F. Gomez.