Young Stars 1
Rabat Depiro 5

Rabat Depiro chalked up an easy 5-1 win over Young Stars to consolidate their position at the top of the table as well as their chances of winning their seventh title in a row.

Rabat took just eight minutes to forge ahead when Kenneth Debattista slotted the ball home after being set up by Josef Antonelli. On 28 minutes, Rabat made it 2-0. They won a short corner from which Charlot Antonelli scored with a push-shot.

Five minutes later, Young Stars were awarded a short corner from which Ivan Magro saw his first effort ably saved by Azzopardi but from the resultant rebound, Magro flicked in to score.

Barely a minute passed and Rabat reclaimed their two-goal lead thanks to Josef Antonelli's reverse hit.

During the second half, Young Stars were a more determined side. They could have reduced the deficit after nine minutes but Hughes fired over the bar from an ideal position.

Try as they might, Young Stars could not find a way past the Rabat defence and to add to their misery, Rene Antonelli made it 4-1 on 58 minutes. Kevin Micallef then capped a good performance by scoring Rabat's fifth late on.

Umpires: R. Cremona, A. Tabone.

Qormi HC 3
Sliema Hotsticks 0

Qormi went all out on the attack and after seven minutes, the Sliema custodian Elton Farrugia effected a good save off Philip Magri. However, Farrugia could do nothing to prevent Qormi from forging ahead a minute later when, from an excellent move between Magri, Tanti and Calleja, the latter shot the ball home.

From a well-taken short corner by Sliema, on 23 minutes, Ghio cleared off the line Plaehn's hit.

Qormi's Magri then hit the upright from close range and their pressure paid off early in the second half when Daniel Micallef had the better of Farrugia with a hard hit from the edge of the D, following a short corner move.

Twenty-five minutes into the second half, Qormi were awarded a penalty stroke after Scicluna stopped the ball with his leg on the goal-line.

Jonathan Borg stepped up and beat Farrugia with a low push.

With this win, Qormi are now second in the table and if next Sunday, they end their second round commitments with a win against White Hart, they will move to within four points of leaders Rabat with four matches left.

Umpires: E. Hughes, S. Cassar.