Young Stars 1
Rabat 1
Just a week after the two teams locked horns in the Challenge Cup final, they produced fast-flowing hockey with Young Stars enjoying early pressure and Rabat making their mark as the game progressed.
Young Stars created a couple of half-chances in the first 10 minutes and, after a period of territorial dominance, Edward Hughes had a reverse hit saved in the 20th minute.
Four minutes later, Rabat were unable to take advantage of a one-on-one situation when Young Stars’ custodian James Mizzi blocked the way to goal. After failing to avail themselves of a penalty corner in the 31st minute, Clive Williams missed a chance to put Young Stars ahead, hitting out from a favourable position.
The half-time whistle blew with neither team able to score.
Eight minutes into the second half, Young Stars won a penalty corner and Mark Camilleri buried a shot into the right corner of Rabat’s net to give his team a 1-0 lead.
Both teams then increased their efforts but it was not until the 54th minute that Rabat won a penalty corner which failed to yield tangible reward.
Three minutes later, Camilleri spurned an opportunity to double Young Stars’ lead but fired his shot wide. In the 63rd minute, Shawn Falzon made no mistake when, as a result of a penalty corner, he scored to equalise for Rabat.
Despite winning another two penalty corners, Rabat were unable to clinch victory.
Umpires: Luke Busuttil Leaver, Manuel Imbroll.
Qormi 7
White Hart 0
As early as the third minute, Qormi won a penalty corner and Juan Sarcia put them in front.
After further probing of the White Hart defence, in the 15th minute Keith Calleja and Kyle Micallef combined to free Steve Tanti who gave Qormi a 2-0 lead.
Tanti got his second and Qormi’s third in the 20th minute when he hit home after picking up a rebound off the goalkeeper’s pads.
From then on, Qormi dominated the half and should have added to their tally as both John Williams and Thomas Degiovanni fluffed easy chances before half-time. The second half got underway in lashing rain and Qormi maintained constant pressure but failed to capitalise on a number of penalty corners up to the 52nd minute.
Two minutes later, White Hart, in one of their rare attacks, won a short corner and almost pulled one back but Gareth Dimech cleared off the line with his goalkeeper beaten.
Qormi counter-attacked immediately and Tanti notched his third goal to send his team 4-0 up.
The game was over as a contest at this point and Sarcia netted Qormi’s fifth in the 62nd minute as a result of a penalty corner action and scored again from a similar situation to complete his hat-trick.
There was still time for Micallef to strike Qormi’s seventh goal in the last minute.
Umpires: Reno Cremona, Robert Aquilina.