Lightshop Hotsticks 2
Qormi Poiatti 1

This encounter was billed as indicative to which team would become favourites to win the championship.

The Hotsticks prevailed on the day to open a four-point lead at the top of the standings and take a step towards the title.

Hotsticks took an early lead when on five minutes Steve Portelli received a pass from outside the D, swivelled on his access and shot home.

Both teams were well-organised defensively and Hotsticks were guilty of missing a couple of giltedged chances to double their lead.

Qormi started to exert pressure with moves down the flanks and on 23 minutes Juan Sarcia drew his team level with a well-placed volley as a result of a penalty corner action.

The score remained unchanged until half-time but only thanks to a blinding diving save by Shawn Mifsud, the Qormi keeper.

Qormi held the initiative and Hotsticks had to thank net-minder Emile Borg who kept out a couple of menacing efforts to keep his goal intact.

At the other end of the field, Portelli was on the right spot to score his second to send Hotsticks into a 2-1 lead.

Qormi reacted strongly and on 62 minutes Sarcia shot wide and another scoring opportunity went abegging.

Late on, Qormi were awarded a penalty corner and Borg covered himself in glory with a diving save to preserve his the Hotsticks’ lead.

Umpires: Luke Busuttil Leaver, Raymond Micallef.

Floriana Young Stars 4
Rabat Depiro 0

After a quiet start, Young Stars started to impose their game but it was not until the 28 minutes that Mark Camilleri buried a shot into the corner of the net open the score.

Rabat hit back and just before half-time the base of the Young Stars post denied them from an equaliser.

The Stars regained control and Ryan Seychell pushed home from close range to make it 2-0 before Christian Bonello netted his side’s third. Tempers frayed but Seychell kept his cool to net his second of the day as the Stars kept their championship hopes alive.

Umpires: Manuel Imbroll, Keith Calleja.

Standings
Hotsticks 14; Young Stars 10; Qormi 10; Rabat 5; White Hart 1.