Sirens beat Sliema to win third successive women’s national league championship

Sirens ASC were crowned as women’s champions after defeating rivals Sliema 12-10 in the final match of the season.

The St Paul’s Bay side finished the season four points clear of Sliema to land their third successive league title, and their third honour of the season after lifting the Winter League and the Super Cup earlier this year.

It was far from a comfortable victory for Sirens who found themselves three goals behind at the end of the first session.

Karla Camilleri struck twice early on before Francesca Paolella netted the third goal with just over a minute to the end of the first session.

Sophie Abela pulled a goal back for Sirens but Paolella soon restored her team’s four-goal lead before going on to make it 5-1.

The St Paul’s Bay side needed a response and goals from Kaia Agius and Kendra Navarro bridged the gap to 5-3 before the ends were changed.

In the third session, Sirens came out firing and Denise Micallef pulled her team just one goal behind – 5-4.

Louise Coleiro put Sliema two goals ahead, but Sirens produced a strong response as they netted three goals without reply through a brace from Agius and Denise Micallef put the Saints 7-6 ahead.

Sophie Camilleri restored parity for Sliema but it was Sirens who had the final say as Martha Perici Ferrante handed her team a crucial 8-7 lead with just one session to go.

Kaia Agius put Sirens 9-7 ahead but Karla Camilleri kept Sliema in the match with their eighth goal.

Goals on either side from Sophie Abela (Sirens) and Louis Coleiro (Sliema) kept the match on a knife edge.

Kaia Agius put Sirens two goals ahead but Camilleri handed a lifeline to Sliema.

However, it was Sirens who had the final say as a goal from Denise Micallef with just over 30 seconds to go sealed the win for the St Paul’s Bay side.

At the end of the match, Joseph Agius, Chief Technology Officer at Bank of Valletta, and Randolph Cauchi, vice-president of the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta presented the BOV Water Polo Women’s League Trophy to the Sirens clan.