White Hart 1
Young Stars 7
This was a game that turned on its head after the change of ends.
After a quiet start Young Stars went ahead on 12 minutes when Clive Williams netted, meeting an accurate Mark Camilleri cross.
A period of studious midfield play followed with both teams prodding each others’ defences and on 32 minutes Robert Vassallo Agius, White Hart’s custodian, effected an outstanding save when he dived full length to parry a shot while still in mid air.
However a minute later, Ivan Magro Dingli beat Vassallo Agius to send Young Stars 2-0 ahead, a lead they held until half-time.
White Hart started the second half on attack and as a result of a penalty corner action Mark Zahra reduced the arrears.
They kept up the pressure and Glen Bonello hit the side netting as a result of another penalty corner.
However, from the immediate counter attack, Luke Borg Costanzi scored to restore Young Stars’ two-goal cushion.
Young Stars were then awarded a penalty stroke and Edward Hughes sent his team 4-1 up.
This sudden turn in fortune had an adverse effect on the youthful White Hart side and Jonathan Ellul scored a fifth in the 61st minute.
Three minutes later, Young Stars were awarded another penalty stroke and Williams netted his second goal of the day.
There was still time enough for Charles Micallef to hit home from the top of the D to complete a comprehensive 7-1 victory.
Umpires: Luke Busuttil Leaver and Manuel Imbroll.
Rabat 0
Sliema Hotsticks 1
The first real attack decided this encounter when Shaun Grima met a Steve Portelli cross to send Hotsticks into a 1-0 lead which they held to the very end.
The first half provided end-to-end fare with defences well on top.
In fact, Hotsticks did not take advantage of a penalty corner award in the 14th minute. Rabat did not avail themselves of a similar situation and the ding-dong affair continued in midfield.
However, Hotsticks finished the first half on a top note although they did not manage to increase their lead following a melee deep in Rabat’s D.
The tempo of the game increased in the second half with Rabat doubling their efforts to break down Hotsticks’ defence but did not take advantage of two penalty corners around the 40th minute.
Although both teams created half chances, neither team could take control of this match.
Ludolf Rasterhoff went close for Hotsticks and Rabat’s Robert Aquilina’s shot just shaved the post.
Further Rabat pressure did not produce the desired result and Hotsticks played out time to register a hard-fought victory.
Umpires: David Agius and Paul Brincat.