Neptunes earn the first Winter League title after four years

Waterpolo Bank of Valletta winter league

Neptunes Leo Vegas Sliema Frank Salt (5-2), (1-3), (2-4), (5-0) 13 9

A splendid fourth session gave Neptunes the 10th success in this competition as they managed to defeat Sliema Frank Salt 13-9.

This was the first Winter League in four years and will serve as the necessary boost for them in order to retain the Summer League. Their evergreen captain Niki Lanzon was again instrumental in another victory as Sliema failed to hold on to their slender lead in the third session.

Jeremy Abela gave Neptunes a deserved 3-0 lead in the first half of the first session. Sliema tried to recover twice but Neptunes responded in both occasions to finish the session with a comfortable lead.

But this positive advantage was lost in the second session as Sliema were brave enough to recover with three goals in the space of four minutes, from a brace by Jerome Gabarretta and a good goal by youngster Benji Cachia. Niki Lanzon scored late in the session to give his team a one-goal lead. In this session, Nicholas Bugelli was sent-off after aggressive play.

Sliema equalised again from Benji Cachia but Neptunes again built a two-goal cushion in less than a minute. Sergio Afric’s players fought again to stay in the game and took the lead for the first time in the game with more than a minute till the end of the third session. Benji Cachia and Mark Meli levelled the game while Michael Spiteri Staines scored a wonderful goal in what looked to be an important goal.

The break between sessions proved to be vital for Neptunes as they equalised through Niki Lanzon in the first attack of the session. Abela and Lanzon gave them a double advantage.

Sliema had the opportunity to stay in the game but Michael Spiteri Staines’ penalty was saved by Alan Borg Cole with three minutes left.

Matthias Azzopardi and Niki Lanzon rounded off the victory.

After the game, BOV Chief Officer Peter Perotti and ASA Vice President Karl Galea presented the cup to the Neptunes captain Niki Lanzon.

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon (5), K. Erdogan, G. Pace, V. Ragone, J. Farrugia, J. Muscat (1), S. Busuttil, J. Abela (4), N. Zammit (1), S. Stellini, M. Azzopardi (2), B. Busuttil

Sliema: M. Vassallo, J. Gabarretta (2), L. Galea, J. Sciberras (1), M. Meli (1), B. Cachia (3), M. Spiteri Staines (2), C. Cutajar, M. Cordina, D. Rizzo, Z. Mizzi, N. Bugelli, J. Sammut

Referees: Peter Balzan, Mario Dalli

First Division final

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The Neptunes clan celebrating their Winter League victory after their victory against rivals Sliema in yesterday’s final Photo: Trevor Sollars