Victories for Hotsticks and Qormi
Rabat Depiro Lightshop Hotsticks
Bonello
2 3
John Williams, Glen
Initially both teams adopted a cautious defensive approach and it was not until the 14th minutes that Hotsticks were awarded the first penalty corner of the match which Jonathan Borg scored to send his team 1-0 up.
Hotsticks tried to press home their advantage immediately, but missed a couple of chances to go further ahead. On 24 minutes Rabat’s forwards did not connect with a delightful chip from the left flank which flew across the face of the goal with no takers.
Hotsticks finished the half on the attack though not being able to increase their slender one goal lead.
On 42 minutes Rabat spurned a penalty corner opportunity and just three minutes later Hotsticks increased their lead when Christian Sammut pushed home from an acute angle after a run down the left flank.
On 65 minutes Mario Galea reduced the arrears for Rabat, with a delicate flick to cut Hotsticks’ lead to 2-1. Hotsticks struck back immediately and two minutes later Borg grabbed his second goal to extend his team’s lead to 3- 1.
No one could envisage the drama that was to be played out as the game drew towards the end. Rabat were awarded a penalty corner on 69 minutes and Shawn Falzon scored to pull the score back to 3-2.
As the final seconds of the match ticked away, Rabat were awarded a penalty stroke and Hotsticks’ goalkeeper, Emile Borg, affected a fantastic save diving full length to his right pushing the ball away past the post, securing a 3-2 victory for Hotsticks .
Qormi Poiatti Laferla White Hart 3 1
Umpires: Luke Busuttil Leaver, Manuel Imbroll
White Hart took an early lead on 7 minutes when Charlot Sammut shot them ahead as a result of a penalty corner action.
Qormi then started to dictate matters but it was not until the 18th minute when they were awarded a penalty corner and Juan Sarcia shot low into the corner of the net to level the score at 1-1.
Not taking further advantage of two penalty corner awards around the 20 minute mark, Sarcia scored his second on 24 minutes to send Qormi into a 2-1 lead.
On 30 minutes Qormi were awarded a penalty stroke but Ramon Chircop dived full length to right to push the ball past the post with his stick, denying Sarcia his hat trick.
The half time whistle blew with the score unchanged at 2-1.
Qormi went further ahead on 40 minutes when Steve Tanti lashed onto a Keith Calleja assist to score and send Qormi into a 3-1 lead.
They then continued to dictate matters with the their customary possession tactics and it was White Hart’s custodian, Chircop, who capped a fine performance affecting further several saves to keep Qormi at bay, the final whistle seeing Qormi victors by 3 - 1 .