It was a night of high-octane water polo at the National Pool on Friday, April 17, as the BOV Winter League 2026 continued with three high-scoring encounters. San Giljan MAA Daikin, Exiles Welbees, and Marsaskala all secured convincing victories, showcasing a masterclass in offensive efficiency.

San Giljan Outclass Birżebbuġa in 34-Goal Thriller

In the evening’s most prolific match, San Giljan MAA Daikin demonstrated their title credentials with a dominant 23–11 victory over Birżebbuġa. The Saints established control early, heading into the halftime break with an 11–6 lead.

The attack was led by the clinical Matthew Zammit, who found the net five times, while Nikolai Zammit contributed four. Birżebbuġa’s Max Aquilina matched the five-goal haul in a spirited individual performance, but his side was ultimately undone by a relentless San Giljan offense that poured in seven goals in the final frame. The physical nature of the game saw Birżebbuġa’s Dwayne Farrugia foul out in the third quarter after picking up three major exclusions.

Exiles Welbees Overwhelm Barracudas

Exiles Welbees produced a ruthless performance to dismantle Barracudas 24–8. The contest was effectively settled in the first quarter as Exiles raced to a 5–0 lead, a gap the Barracudas could never bridge.

Keith Tanti spearheaded the Exiles’ charge with a hat-trick, supported by a balanced scoring sheet that saw five different teammates net braces. Giulio Massa was the bright spot for Barracudas, scoring three goals, but defensive lapses and frequent exclusions—particularly for Hayden Brincat and Luke Bowman—prevented any sustained comeback.

Marsaskala Edge Ta’ Xbiex in Battle of Resilience

The opening fixture of the evening saw Marsaskala overcome a slow start to defeat Ta’ Xbiex Amigos 15–11. Trailing 1–0 after the first quarter, Marsaskala ignited in the second half, notably exploding for eight goals in a decisive third-period blitz.

Matthew Soler and Marco Mannino each recorded hat-tricks for the winners. Ta’ Xbiex remained competitive throughout thanks to three-goal performances from Raoul Greco and Jan Culic, but they were unable to recover from Marsaskala’s third-quarter surge.

Friday’s Match Results at a Glance