SIRENS 8
SLIEMA 10
(3-4, 1-4, 1-2, 3-0)
Sliema Arkadia are the winners of the 2021 Knock Out competition after they had the better of Sirens Mecca Marin 10-8 in the final at the National Pool on Wednesday.
The match was evenly-balanced in the first session but Sliema’s four-goal burst in the second session tilted the match in their favour as Sirens could not wipe away their deficit in the remaining two sessions as the Blues claimed the honours.
The first session turned out to be a seven-goal thriller with Francesca Paolella’s brace and further goals from Karla Camilleri and Andria Friggieri handed Sliema 4-3 lead. For Sirens, Elisa Amato notched two goals with the other coming from Mackenzie Falzon.
In the second session, Sliema took control of proceedings scoring four goals with Paolella again the protagonist when netted all her team’s goals to put them 8-4 ahead.
Goals from Karla Camilleri and Sophie Camilleri further increased Sliema’s lead with Perici Ferrante grabbing Sirens’ only goal as they trailed 10-5 with just one session to go.
In the final session, Sirens gave everything they had and scored three times without reply through Denise Micallef, Elisa Amato and Martha Perici Ferrante but it was not enough as Sliema took the honours 10-8.
At the end of the match, Charles Azzopardi, Executive PR and marketing at Bank of Valletta and Rita Azzopardi, Secretary General of the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta, presented the medals and trophies to the winners.
SIRENS: Alexia Amato, Elaya Montfort, Elisa Amato 3, Chloe Amato, Martha Perici Ferrante 2, Eliza Vella, Mackenzie Falzon 1, Nicole Scicluna, Denise Micallef 2, Kay Attard, Zaira Bartolo, Zea Cutajar Licari.
SLIEMA: Kursty Plumpton, Karla Camilleri 2, Martina Busuttil, Lisa Fenech, Amber Restall, Louise Cachia 1, Francesca Paolella 5, Sophie Camilleri 1, Eyla Schembri, Sarah Figallo, Andria Friggieri, Nilai Bugeja.
Referees: Richard Magri, Alessandro Severo.
