The BOV National Water Polo Summer League and the Meridianbet Cup kicked off in spectacular fashion on June 16, 2026, at the National Pool Complex. Fans were treated to an incredible offensive showcase across three highly entertaining matches, which produced a staggering total of 92 goals.

Match 1: Birżebbuġa Outclass Barracudas in Cup Opener

Final Score: Birżebbuġa 22 – 8 Barracudas

Birżebbuġa opened the evening’s proceedings by asserting their dominance over Barracudas in a one-sided Meridianbet Cup tie. Stefan Vidovic ran riot for Birżebbuġa, putting on a clinical shooting display to finish with seven goals, while teammate Max Aquilina added a staggering six-goal haul.

Birżebbuġa established a commanding 11-3 cushion by halftime and never looked back. Barracudas fought valiantly through Giulio Massa, who scored four times, but were heavily undone by discipline issues, racking up ten major exclusions—including Matthias Agius who fouled out in the third quarter. A final 8-3 blitz in the fourth frame sealed the emphatic 22-8 win for Birżebbuġa.

Match 2: Ta’ Xbiex Edge Marsaskala in 36-Goal Thriller

Final Score: Ta’ Xbiex Amigos 19 – 17 Marsaskala Fish & Fish

The second fixture of the evening provided non-stop drama as Ta’ Xbiex Amigos narrowly defeated Marsaskala Fish & Fish in a high-octane encounter. Marsaskala held a slim 11-9 lead at the interval, heavily propelled by an extraordinary individual performance from Dimitrios Dimou, who hammered home eight goals.

However, Ta’ Xbiex staged a brilliant second-half comeback. Driven by Roko Pelicari’s sensational ten-goal masterclass and four goals from captain Julian Farrugia, the Amigos leveled the score at 14-14 in the third quarter. The turning point occurred with 56.7 seconds left on the clock when Marsaskala captain John Brownrigg was shown a direct red card, allowing Ta’ Xbiex to close out a thrilling 19-17 victory.

Match 3: Exiles Welbees Power Past Marsaxlokk

Final Score: Exiles Welbees 21 – 15 Marsaxlokk MFF Limited

The final showdown of the night saw Exiles Welbees lock horns with Marsaxlokk MFF Limited in the Premier Promotion division. Exiles displayed superior depth and offensive consistency, taking control early on to build an 11-6 lead by the midway mark.

Mark Fenech was the standout performer for Exiles, finding the back of the net seven times, with Konstantin Averka and Nathan Bonavia chipping in with four goals apiece. Marsaxlokk’s offensive resistance was spearheaded by Benji Lewis, who scored a commendable six goals, alongside a four-goal contribution from Sean Mifsud. Despite a spirited push from Marsaxlokk in the third frame, Exiles turned the screw in the final quarter to comfortably secure the 21-15 win.

June 16 Scoreboard Summary