In their opening match against VK Budva of Montenegro, valid for the LEN Champions League Qualification Tournament Group B, Malta’s representatives, Valletta, failed to last the pace against more agile and faster opponents who took control in the last sessions to win 9-5.

The Maltese, shorn of some of their best elements due to unavailability, held their own against the Montenegrins and led 3-2 halfway through.

However, a host of missed chances on extra-man sets, which had Matthew Zammit earning most expulsions against the visitors, and some misplaced passes accounted for the locals’ collapse in the latter sessions.

The scorers for Valletta yesterday were Andreas Galea, Mark Meli, Matthew Zammit, Jordan Camilleri and Aurelien Cousin.

Valletta 5
VK Budva 9

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

Valletta: A. Borg Cole, N. Bugelli, A. Galea 1, L. Caruana, M. Meli 1, M. Zammit 1, R. Mock, J. Camilleri 1, E. Aquilina, A. Cousin 1, C. Mercieca, D. Zammit, N. Grixti.

VK Budva: D. Lazovic, L. Manojlovic, L. Cupic, B. Vujasevic, B. Mitrovic 2, S. Cetkovic, M. Radu-novic 1, B. Durdic 3; S. Kovacevic, A. Radanovic 1, P. Cetkovic 1, B. Franeta 1, M. Krivokapic.

Refs: G. Haentschel, X. Buch.

Other result
SM Verona vs Digi Oradea 11-11 (2-2, 3-4, 3-1, 3-4).

Programme

Playing today
6pm VK Budva vs DIGI Oradea; 7.15pm Valletta vs Verona.

Tomorrow
9.30am SM Verona vs UK Budva; 10.45am Oradea vs Valletta.

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