Free-scoring Giacomo Cannella gave Sliema a title that has been missing for 11 years from their trophy cabinet after defeating holders San Ġiljan in the final.
It was a truly remarkable performance from the Italian player which lifted his team to a 17-12 victory over San Ġiljan.
It was another steely match, superbly controlled by the referee duo of Massimo Angilleri and Daniele Bianco.
Sliema were first on the scoresheet when Jamie Gamin converted a man-up set.
A penalty procured by the same player was converted by Cannella.
San Ġiljan responded through Jeremy Abela who scored on their first numerical advantage.
Sliema converted their second and third man-up situation in quick succession through Jayden Cutajar and Cannella.
San Ġiljan came back momentarily as Matthew Zammit woke up to his responsibilities with a quick-fire brace before Cannella completed his hat-trick to put Sliema 5-3 up.
The Blues kept their edge over their opponents in the second session courtesy of the Italian player as well as the fine covering from their defenders.
The Pro-Recco player, who collected a poker this time, also contrived to have a penalty saved by Jake Tanti, in a high-scoring second quarter in which the two sides shared ten goals.
The sporting battle between two unyielding teams continued in the third quarter.
San Ġiljan kept their cool despite their handicap of having two of their players hanging on two personal faults – Matthew Zammit and Jeremy Abela.
Yet, Zeljko Kovacic was forced to use them sparingly. Dino Zammit made it 11-8 but the goals kept alternating until Jayden Cassar increased Sliema’s cushion to three goals at the end of the third session.
At this point, Kovacic threw caution to the wind, putting into the water at the start of the fourth session both Zammit and Abela.
Zammit was fouled out but Abela reduced the arrears.
The Blues might have been justified when betraying signs of apprehension midway through the final session when they saw their 13-10 advantage reduced to 13-12 by Nicholas Bugelli before Dino Zammit was fouled out.
But Cannella, showing remarkable mastery, eased his sides’ nerves with a quick-fire hat-trick to put their opponents at arms’ length and help Sliema win their first major title since 2013.
Exiles win first honour since 2008
Exiles carried off the first honour of the season in their category after easily outdoing Otters in the KO Final.
This was the first major honour won by the team from Sliema after an absence of 16 years.
Exiles had an edge over their opponents throughout, both in swimming and in their execution, with nine-goal Daniel Gogov being the main threat for the winners.
A 5-2 first session lead was extended to 10-5 by the midpoint and then to 13-8 at the end of the penultimate quarter.
The team shared four goals in the final part of the game as Niki Lanzon landed silverware in his first season at the helm of Exiles.
DIVISION ONE KO FINAL
OTTERS 9
EXILES 15
(3-5, 2-5, 2-3, 2-2)
OTTERS: M. Xerri, M. Bonnici, K. Scicluna 2, K. Micallef, M. Meli 5, D. Dimech, L. Dimech 1, P. Smiljevic, M. Farrugia, A. Dimech 1, M. Grech, T. Mifsud.
EXILES: Z. Dzanovic, Z. Cutajar Licari 1, Z. Micallef, D. Pace Lupi, M. Martelacci 1, N. Bonavia, D. Gogov 9, K. Griscti 1, N. Paris 1, K. Tanti 1, M. Fenech, N. Saliba 1, G. Galea Curmi, S. Cutajar Casha.
Refs: R. Spiteri, M. Gerasimov.
PREMIER DIVISION FINAL
SAN ĠILJAN 13
SLIEMA 17
(3-5, 5-5, 2-3, 3-4)
SAN ĠILJAN: J. Tanti, N. Bugelli 1, D. Tully, R. Caruana, A. Younger 3, M. Zammit 2, J. Bonavia 1, J. Zammit, J. Abela 3, N. Zammit, D. Zammit 3, N. Schiavone, G. Borg, G. Bonavia.
SLIEMA: N. Grixti, E. Schembri, L. Galea 1, J. Gambin 1, G. Cannella 9, B. Cachia, J. Cutajar 2, D. Rizzo 1, J. Brownrigg, A. Galea, Z. Mizzi, D. Zammit 1, M. Castillo, J. Cassar 1.
Refs: M. Angilleri, L. Bianco.
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