Young Stars 2
Qormi 1

Young Stars threw the title issue wide open after beating championship rivals Qormi in a top-of-the-table match at Corradino on Sunday.

Qormi started on the attack and spurned a couple of goal-scoring chances early on with both Jonathan Aquilina and Zachary DeGiovanni going close.

But it was the Stars who got the breakthrough. On 13 minutes they won a penalty corner and Mark Camilleri shot them ahead at the first time of asking.

Camilleri had another effort saved by Qormi keeper Ramon Chircop as play ebbed and flowed in midfield until on 30 minutes Shawn Mifsud missed a sitter for Young Stars when failing to connect with a cross at the far post.

Qormi started the second half at a gallop.

They did not take advantage of three penalty corners but on 42 minutes the scores became level when Jonathan Aquilina lashed on to a ball inside the D and netted.

Both teams increased their endeavours but play became less tactical with the two contenders searching to land the killer goal.

The occasion fell to Chris Attard, of Young Stars. With the final whistle looming, he fired home from the top of the D to give his team a hard-earned win and the top position in the standings.

If the title issue is not decided by the end of the month, the hockey fraternity will have a déjà vu situation when a play-off will be necessary to determine the new champions.

Umpires: Luke Busuttil Leaver, Robert Aquilina.

Sliema Hotsticks 3
White Hart 1

After a quiet start, White Hart went ahead when Liam Azzopardi netted a tremendous reverse stick hit from an acute angle.

Hotsticks reacted strongly and pinned White Hart into their defensive area but half-time was reached with the bottom team still leading by that solitary early goal.

Hotsticks continued exerting pressure in the second half but could not break down the solid White Hart defence, well marshalled by David Agius.

Keeper Robert Vassallo Agius was also proving decisive in his sorties out of goal but on 52 minutes he was finally beaten when Silas Plaehn hit home after a melee inside the D.

Three minutes later Hotsticks forged ahead through Simon Baldacchino who then grabbed his second to secure a 3-1 victory for the Sliema team in their quest to consolidate third place.

Umpires: Paul Brincat, Edward Hughes.