In a thrilling final clash that took place yesterday, San Ġiljan continued their reign in the BOV Winter League, clinching a record fifth consecutive title. The match saw them overpowering their rivals Neptunes, sealing their victory with an 11-9 scoreline.
San Ġiljan’s path to victory was characterized by their unwavering dominance, exemplified by their performance in the final against Neptunes. Despite a strong start from Neptunes, with a 2-1 lead early in the match, San Ġiljan quickly took control, led by Nico Schiavone’s hat-trick and contributions from Andreas Galea and Jake Bonavia.
As the game progressed, San Ġiljan’s superiority became more evident, particularly with the return of Matthew Zammit to the water. They dominated the third quarter, establishing a 7-5 lead with goals from Schiavone, Galea, and Zammit. Even when Zammit was excluded late in the game, Neptunes failed to capitalize on the opportunity.
With just three minutes remaining and San Ġiljan leading 11-7, any hopes of a Neptunes comeback were dashed as Russell Caruana scored a quick brace, solidifying the victory for the Saints. Though Neptunes managed to make the scoreline more respectable with late goals, San Ġiljan’s triumph was undeniable.
In an earlier fixture on the same day, Sliema secured a 12-7 victory over Sirens, edging past them on goal difference to claim second place in the league standings behind San Ġiljan. Led by Daniel Rizzo and veteran Dino Zammit, who both scored three goals each, Sliema demonstrated their dominance throughout the match.
San Ġiljan’s fifth consecutive title reaffirms their status as the team to beat in Maltese water polo. With their victory fresh in mind, the league’s other contenders will be aiming to dethrone them in the seasons to come.
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