Sliema's power pins down fumbling Sirens

Sirens Go Mobile 4
Sliema Burger King 9
(1-2, 0-2, 0-4, 3-1)

A powerful display of waterpolo, backed by superb tactical nous, had Sliema Burger King reduce Sirens Go Mobile to tatters as the champions maintained their stride at the top of the Division One table alongside rivals Neptunes Vodafone.

The ease with which the Blues dismantled their fumbling opponents was very surprising.

At times the northerners looked too lethargic and, indeed, the general impression was that the contest never lifted off.

Sliema simply had too much steam and punching qualities as they won possession time and again against opponents who were constantly in disarray when trying to breach a solid zone shield.

Although Sirens had an initially miserable man-up card, having missed a penalty and five consecutive man-up sets (the Blues one-on-five did not look convincing either), extra-man statistics were irrelevant in a match which only pointed one way, that of Sliema.

The Blues took the lead when James Falzon surprised Joe Caruana Dingli after evading his shadower's attention in the centre.

Clint Mercieca missed a penalty before John Paris stabbed in goal number two when winning a tussle in the hole. Chris Cauchi did likewise in the other end to reduce the deficit.

Caruana Dingli again appeared unsure when play resumed in the second session on an erstwhile pinpointed lob by Edward Aquilina. Another looping effort from Paris on a break opened a 4-1 lead for the Blues.

Jonathan Valletta's menace was negligible but credit should be given to Falzon's close-marking on him. Sliema were completely in the driving seat and an umpteenth lob again from Aquilina opened a 5-1 advantage.

In a short space of time, Aquilina, John Soler and Francesco Cutajar made it 8-1 as Sliema stormed around their opponents' fort.

In the last session, the Blues grew a little overconfident and Sirens managed to pull back three goals, all on man-up sets.

That was of no consequence as the issue had long been decided.

In the final minute, Cutajar closed the Blues' handsome account to give an indication that Sliema are in full flight towards yet another title success.

Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, N. Imbroll, J. Rizzo Naudi, M. Zammit, C. Cauchi (3), J. Valletta, J. Borg, D. Cutajar, K. Montfort, W. Degiorgio, C. Mercieca, R. Attard, N. Cassar (1).

Sliema: J. Cachia, J. Falzon (1), E. Aquilina (3), M. Galea Pace, M. Meli, J. Soler (1), J. Paris (2), K. Engerer, C. Debono, F. Cutajar (2), R. Coleiro, I. Muscat, A. Bianchi.

Referees: S. Pinato, P. Balzan.

Division Two

Valletta 5
Ta' Xbiex 8
(2-4, 2-0, 1-3, 0-1)

Valletta: E. Arrigo, G. Sammut (1), Mauro Camilleri (2), Marco Camilleri, D. Degiorgio, W. Privitera, A. Galea (1), J.C. Farrugia (1), D. Shaw, C. Saliba, C. Bruno, A. Arrigo, P. Bonnici.

Ta' Xbiex: D. Debono, G. Attard (1), E. Pisani, C. Sciortino, K. D'Ugo (2), A. Fero, J. Zammit (2), D. Schembri (1), T. Boyd, S. Balzan, P. Paolella (2), F. Testa, K. Sciortino.

Referees: A. de Raffaele, M. Caruana.