Waterpolo season to resume on Tuesday after COVID-19 break

ASA effect small changes to format

The 2020 waterpolo season returns on Tuesday evening after a two-week break due to the COVID-19 pandemic when the cross-over matches will resume at the National Pool.

The Acquatic Sport Association was forced to halt this year’s competition after a player from San Ġiljan and Otters tested positive for COVID-19 and both teams went into quarantine.

However, after ensuring that all the necessary precautions were taken to ensure again a safety environment, the ASA will resume its campaign this evening with some little changes.

Contacted by the Times of Malta, president Joe Caruana Curran said that the governing body took the decision in consultation with the clubs to reduce the number of matches played to ensure the season will be completed by the end of September.

“All decisions taken have been made in consultation with the clubs and I thank them for their co-operation,” Caruana Curran said.

“The main changes from the format will see that at the end of the cross-over matches, the Premier Division Teams will be split into two factions, the top three in one and the other three teams in the other.

“That would mean that the top three teams will play against each other with the leading two sides at the end of the round will progress to the semi-final. The other team will be involved in play-offs with the sides from the other section.

“Points from direct encounters will be carried forward for both divisions.”

As regards, the First Division, this will be contested by five teams with the top team going directly to the final with his opponent decided after the play-offs.

Caruana Curran said that to ensure a higher level of safety, the match schedule was made in a way to have matches from the two divisions being held on different days to avoid that all teams will meet at the National Pool.

“That will entail that a very hectic match schedule, with games being played over a six-day period every week but for us the priority is the safety of all players and officials,” Caruana Curran concluded.

PROGRAMME

PLAYED ON TUESDAY

BIRŻEBBUĠA  6

EXILES              11

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

BIRŻEBBUĠA: M. Rossi, J. Farrugia 2; N. Cassar, D. Pace Lupi, C. Mifsud 1, P. Serracino, S. Vassallo 1, D. Cutajar, M. Bonnici 1, M. Borg 1, R. Spiteri, S. Fava, M. Sladden.

EXILES: M. Castillo, J. Bajada, A. Magri, P. Paris 2, T. Sullivan 4, S. Xerri De Caro 1, M. Fenech 3, K. Griscti, N. Paris 1, A. Cousin, S. Apap, D. Fenech.

Referees: M. Angileri, S. Licari.

VALLETTA       13

MARSASKALA 7

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

VALLETTA: R. Sciortino, P. Borg, E. Aquilina 4, M. Stellini, A. Agius 2, R. Mock, D. Paolella 1, A. Bianchi, N. Farrugia, M. Zammit 3, N. Lanzon 3, T. Micallef.

MARSASKALA: J. Micallef, J.C. Cutajar 2, A. Camenzuli 1, P. Privitera, M. Aquilina 2, L. Grixti, K. Navarro, M. Manara 1, L. Felice, J. Culic 1, R. Attard, M. Chircop, A. Muscat.

Referees: M. Dalli, A. DeRaffaele.

PLAYING WEDNESDAY

San Ġiljan vs Sirens     19.05

Neptunes vs Sliema     20.10

PLAYING FRIDAY         

Sliema vs Birżebbuġa  18.15

Sirens vs Exiles             19.20

PLAYING SATURDAY

Neptunes vs San Ġiljan             18.15

Marsaskala vs Otters   19.15