Kurt Bartolo tries to deliver a pass despite the Żurrieq marking. Photo: Joe Borg

Champions Hibernians recorded the biggest win of the season after a mammoth 21-6 victory over Żurrieq in the FXDD Premier Division.

For the Paolites, this was their 12th victory in the championship which keeps them at the top of the standings, three points ahead of Luxol and four better off than third-placed Balzan.

Kurt Bartolo capped his long-awaited return from injury by scoring a hat-trick for the Paolites as Georgian international David Bobokhidze netted six times while Melvin Borg and Cedric Sciberras grabbed four goals each.

Ħamrun Spartans beat bottom-placed Birżebbuġa 7-3 for three valuable points that pushed them to fifth in the table along with Żabbar and San Ġwann.

Cristian Cuadros Silva inspired the Spartans with four goals while Mohammed Elamari, Christian Cacciatolo and Martin Svihalek scored a goal each.

Żabbar beat Mosta 6-3 in their last match as San Ġwann’s Andy Mangion marshalled his team to victory after netting four times in a 6-4 win over Swieqi United. Rudy Pace and Alan Borg completed the scoring for the winners.

In the First Division, leaders Qrendi got back to winning ways after beating Kalkara 6-3. Qrendi hit a stumbling block last month when they were surprised by Fgura United 5-4. But against Kalkara, the leaders made sure of the points following goals from Ronald Spina (2), Antonello Brincat (2), Alan Spiteri and Kevin Vella.

Żebbuġ, meanwhile, defeated Mqabba 3-1 to bounce back to the second position thanks to their ninth win in this campaign. Gżira, however, suffered their fourth defeat of the season after a 2-1 upset to Valletta. Baldassare Borg proved to be the Citizens’ hero after hitting both goals for his team.

The Citizens followed that up with a 7-1 rout of Msida St Joseph to get back in the promotion hunt. Kurt Bartolo tries to deliver a pass despite the Żurrieq marking. Photo: Joe Borg