The fourth and final day of the EuroHockey Club Champions Challenge IV at the Corradino Complex yesterday saw Maltese team Qormi and Norway’s Kringsja SK sealing promotion from the group.

The first play-off game of the day was between Finland’s HC Kilppari and Kringsja SK.

A tight first half ended all-square with Arunpreet Singh Garcha opening the score for Kringsja and Toni Keski-Valkama equalising for the Finns.

The second half was a different story though as Kringsja scored five goals without reply through Garcha, Nathan Schrimgeour, Inderjit Singh, Jaspreet Singh and captain Sandeep Singh Sohi.

Kringsja were joined by Qormi who beat Greece team Imittos in the other promotion play-off.

The contest was tight with scoring chances few and far between.

The match seemed heading for a penalty shoot-out until right on 70 minutes when Thomas Degiovanni fired in a rising reverse hit that beat the Imittos keeper.

Victory meant promotion to the Club Champions Challenge III for the Maltese league winners.

The programme yesterday got underway early with tournament hosts Sliema Hotsticks avoiding the wooden spoon when they beat Seinajoki United, of Finland, 5-0.

A first-half goal from Jonathan Borg set the ball rolling for the Hotsticks.

Two further goals from Borg and a Steve Portelli double in the second half sealed an emphatic and merited victory for the Hotsticks.

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