A brilliant second session paves the way for Exiles win

Exiles Jetfreight 11 Valletta Utd 4 (2-2), (5-0), (3-1), (1-1)

Before the season, one could predict that the battle to avoid last place was going to be between Exiles and Valletta, but as things stand after both teams ended their campaign, Exiles Jetfreight surprised most of the local waterpolo supporters ending with 14 points, a record of the club. The hero in this game for Exiles was Timmy Sullivan scoring six goals while spearheading his team to take and consolidate the lead in the early stages of the game.

Timmy Sullivan opened the score for Exiles, but Valletta reacted with two goals from Serbian Boris Vapenski and Andrea Agius. Sullivan scored his second goal of the game to equalise as both teams finished the session equally.

But things didn’t go the same way in the second session as Exiles dominated the play, leaving Valletta with no ideas in the attacking zone, and after they took the lead from Kurt Griscti, they scored four other goals from a brace by Timmy Sullivan, another goal by Kurt Griscti and a late goal by Michele Stellini to give his team a clear advantage.

The game was an uphill battle for the citizens and their little hope of a comeback ended as Exiles continued to control the game and widen the gap with goals from Nicky Paris and another goal by Sullivan who was in a splendid mood in front of goal. Vapenski reduced the margin but Griscti scored to make the score 10-3.

As expected, Exiles controlled the remainder of the game, as Valletta tried to limit the damage, something which they could only hold not reduce as the last session, which had no significance, ended in a draw.

Exiles: M. Castillo, J. Rizzo Naudi, D. Borg Millo, M. Stellini (1), T. Sullivan (6), S. Xerri de Caro, S. Nikic, K. Griscti (3), N. Paris (1), L. Felice, B. Lanzon, J. Bajada, G. Ciappara

Valletta: R. Sciortino, J. Spiteri Staines, A. Agius (1), M. Rizzo, M. Fenech, R. Mock, D. Paolella, N. Bonello Ghio, M. Cordina, B. Vapenski (2), K. Galea (1), A. Mifsud, F. Buhagiar

Referees: Ronnie Spiteri, Domenico Rotondano

Deserved win for Birżebbuga Birzebbuga 13 Otters Nivea 6 (3-2), (3-1), (3-1), (4-2)

Birżebbuġa ended their league commitments with a deserved win, beating Otters Nivea with a seven-goal margin. Therefore, Birżebbuġa finished in third place alongside their opponents with 17 points, an end result that truly gives them a bright future after 15 years of absence from the Waterpolo scene.

Experienced Hungarian coach Erik Valter made a good job of helping the youngsters alongside the foreigner Marko Jelaka and veteran Charlie Zammit.

Ironically Otters opened the score from Marko Jelaka, but Birżebbuġa went in front with goals from Sergi Mora and Malcolm Manara. Jelaka equalised but Mora kept his team in advantage. Marco Risso’s team scored three times in the second session to extend their lead to four goals and got in the driving seat for the win with a comfortable margin. Jelaka scored again to reduce the deficit.

In the third session, Birżebbuġa stepped up their efforts to put the game to bed, and scored twice from Ayrton Camenzuli and David Pace Lupi, while Mora cancelled Jelaka’s goal to finish the session 9-4. With a five-goal difference between both teams, the game was decided and so, there was more space to the players to roam. Meli responded to the goal of Manara, and Jelaka responded to the goal of Pace Lupi, but Birżebbuġa made sure to have the last laugh in the session with a quick brace by Simon Vassallo.

Birżebbuġa: D. Abela, M. Manara (2), S. Mora (4), D. Pace Lupi (2), A. Camenzuli (1), A. Sammut, S. Vassallo (3), N. Cassar, G. Farrugia, M. Caruana, K. Rizzo Naudi (1), K. Gauci, D. Spiteri

Otters: M. Xerri, M. Borg Millo, A. Magri, L. Hyzler, E. Meli (1), D. Dimech, G. Mizzi, M. Jelaka (5), C. Zammit, M. Borg, C. Teuma, S. Wareing

Referees: Stefan Licari, Alessandro Roberti