Given San Ġiljan’s momentum in the race for the 2017 championship title, victory over Sirens yesterday merely rubber-stamped their dominance in the BOV Premier Division.

Their nine-point lead over outgoing champions Neptunes before yesterday’s outing was more than a comfortable buffer for San Ġiljan and a tenth league title was definitely theirs once formalities were completed.

San Ġiljan finished the job without a hitch.

Marko Orlovic’s men are the top team in the division and they boast a perfect record of 12 wins from as many matches.

Aleksandar Ivovic shot San Giljan ahead from penalty early on and they managed to keep their noses in front by the odd goal in five.

The Saints conducted the scoreline with Sirens twice drawing level.

John Brownrigg’s goal that gave the St Paul’s Bay side a 4-3 lead early in the second session was neutralised by a second penalty from Ivovic.

San Ġiljan took a 7-5 lead at the halfway stage after goals from Matthew Zammit, Ivovic again from a penalty and Aurelien Cousin were netted in between David Cutajar’s strike.

San Ġiljan coach Marko Orlovic celebrates with Matthew Zammit.San Ġiljan coach Marko Orlovic celebrates with Matthew Zammit.

Peter Borg added another goal at the start of the third session before a bullet from Matthew Camilleri opened a three-goal gap with the title firmly heading to San Ġiljan, as if there were ever any doubt.

San Ġiljan were now enjoying plenty of space to manoeuvre with Ben Plumpton coming to the fore, first by completing the job in a swift counter-attack and then by procuring a penalty which was converted by Dino Zammit as the last session proved to be an easy-going affair.

Earlier on, Neptunes took some time to shake off Exiles’ challenge and could only pull away in the last session with goals from the Camilleri brothers, Steve and Jordan, their captain Niki Lanzon and their foreigner Romain Blary who opened a four-goal gap at 10-6 and they never looked back.

After the match, Peter Perotti, BOV chief officer, presented the waterpolo player of the month award for July to Neptunes stalwart Steve Camilleri.

In the first match, Otters managed to stun leaders Marsaxlokk courtesy of an astonishing comeback when a four-goal deficit was turned to a splendid victory with 25 seconds to go.

It had looked all over for the Gozitans as they fumbled against Roman Polacik’s men who had done everything right to take a 10-6 lead into the last session.

But Otters, with Marko Jelaka scoring six goals, believed in themselves as the southseasiders wilted under the pressure.

In the end, Edward Meli did it for Otters, forcing Marsaxlokk to wait for the First Division title.

Marsaxlokk 11
Otters 12

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

Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, C. Spiteri de Barro 2, L. Calleja, K. Galea, C. Gialanze 1, C. Bugeja, S. Meli, Z. Kovacic 5, B. Buhagiar, R. Scerri 2, K. Lanzon 1, L. Gialanze, M. Cacici.

Otters: M. Xerri, M. Borg Millo , A. Magri, L. Hyzler 1, E. Meli 3, D. Dimech, G. Mizzi 2, M. Jelaka 6, K. Scicluna, C. Zammit , M. Borg, C. Teuma, J. Sammut.

Refs: Mario Dalli, Paolo Bensaia.

Neptunes 12
Exiles 9

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

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, T. Agius 2, K. Erdogan, R. Blary 2, S. Gravina, S. Camilleri 4, J. Camilleri 3, J. Abela, M. Zammit, J. Culic, M. Azzopardi, I. Bugeja.

Exiles: M. Castillo, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, D. Borg Millo,T.Sullivan 3, M. Stellini, S. Xerri de Caro, S. Nikic 1, K. Griscti 1, N. Paris 2, A. Bianchi 1, B. Lanzon, J. Bajada, S. Pace Galea.

Refs: R. Spiteri, G. Fusco.

San Ġiljan 17
Sirens 7

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

San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, P. Borg 1, A. Galea , B. Grech, T. Said, J, Galea , M. Zammit 3, B. Plumpton 2, Darren Zammit, A. Ivovic 7, A. Cousin 2, P. Fava , Dino Zammit 2, T. Micallef.

Sirens: N. Grixti, J. Zerafa Gregory, C. Presciutti 3, J. Sciberras, M. Grech, I. Riolo, C. Mercieca, D.Cutajar 2, J. Napier, J. Brownigg 1, G. Sammut, J. Ciantar, O. Gauci.

Refs: M. Angileri, P. Bensaia.

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