Hotsticks made a strong start to the championship after beating White Hart 9-0. Photo: Stephen Gatt

Laferla White Hart 0
Lightshop Hotsticks 9

After scoring seven goals in their last two outings, and losing narrowly by one goal on each occasion, more was expected from White Hart in their first league encounter on Sunday.

After a studious start by both teams, Hotsticks started exerting pressure and were awarded three penalty corners.

On 20 minutes, Steve Portelli shot home to send Hotsticks into the lead and Ludolf Rasterhoff netted a beauty two minutes later.

Portelli then grabbed his second and Hotsticks’ third, a lead which they held comfortably until the end of the first half.

Early in the second half, John Camilleri and Rasterhoff netted quick goals to kill White Hart’s fading hopes.

On 55 minutes Portelli increased the score to 6-0 as a result of a penalty corner action.

Hotsticks were awarded a penalty stroke three minutes later and Alessandro Amore stroked the ball into the bottom corner.

There was still time for Camilleri to score number eight with Julian Zahra grabbing a ninth three minutes from time to give Hotsticks an easy victory.

Umpires: Luke Busuttil Leaver, Paul Brincat.

Young Stars 3
Qormi Poiatti 5

Meetings between these two teams always result in high-scoring affairs and this was no different on Sunday.

After a quiet start, Keith Calleja fired Qormi ahead but four minutes later Young Stars drew level through Mark Camilleri.

On 20 minutes Qormi were awarded a penalty stroke and Juan Sarcia scored to send his team ahead.

James Mizzi, the Young Stars custodian, then denied Qormi a third goal when, on 31 minutes, he effected a tremendous save to push the ball onto the post.

Young Stars started the second half brightly and, after squandering an early chance, Jonathan Micallef levelled the scores when he picked up a rebound and flicked home from an acute angle.

John Williams then put Qormi 3-2 in front on 52 minutes, collecting a rebound off the goalkeeper’s pads.

Young Stars upped the tempo but were unable to take advantage of four consecutive penalty corners. They were caught out after abandoning their defensive tactics, allowing Kyle Micallef to round off a swift counter-attack sending Qormi 4-2 up.

Two minutes later, Micallef scored again to increase Qormi’s advantage. But, to their credit, Young Stars did not give up and Clive Williams scored the goal of the match, netting a reverse hit high into the top corner.

The whistle blew leaving Qormi  5-3 winners in a hard-fought and entertaining encounter.

Umpires: Manuel Imbroll, Raymond Micallef.