On Sunday, Punch & Judy Rabat got the victory they needed against closest rivals Hunter's Tower and with one game remaining they were confirmed as champions for the third consecutive time - their fifth in seven years.

This year's triumph was not the blitzkrieg win of last season when Rabat had all but wrapped up the title at the start of the third round.

After a blistering start with three consecutive wins, Rabat came a cropper against the sides that would eventually maintain some sort of challenge to their title aspirations, losing 2-0 to Hunter's Tower and 2-1 to Sliema.

The end of the first round saw them fourth points adrift from the top spot.

From then on, however, nothing would stop them. They started the second round with a 7-1 draping of The George Pub and went on to notch nine consecutive victories.

They completed the second round three points ahead of their rivals, a lead they maintained up to the decisive match on Sunday.

They started off the better side and in the space of five minutes half-way through the half, they struck a double blow thanks to goals from Jason Vella and Josef Antonelli.

These goals rattled Hunter's Tower who up till then had done very little to win the game. However, a spirited rally late in the half produced a goal from Nicky Agius Darmanin and the stage was set for the decisive second half.

Uncharacteristically, Rabat opted to slow down the rhythm and allowed Young Stars to set the pace. Rabat defended well and in their first proper attack of the half they were awarded a penalty following an infringement by goalkeeper Mizzi. Chris Bugeja stepped up but his stroke sailed wide.

The match was not over and this penalty miss gave fresh courage to Hunter's Tower as Rabat's confidence stuttered. Young Stars pressed forward and Rabat defence went through some anxious moments.

Punch & Judy had their chances but on at least two occasions Antonelli opted to take on the Young Stars defence single-handedly when his team-mates were better placed.

These could have been crucial misses but as things turned out no damage was done and the final whistle found Punch & Judy still with a one-goal lead and an unassailable advantage at the top of the table.

Earlier on Sunday, Sliema maintained their hopes of a second place thanks to a 3-1 victory over Pasta Poiatti Qormi.

A penalty from Michael Caruana Smith gave them a 1-0 half-time lead which they maintained until late goals from Liam Pace and Steve Cachia.

A Philip Magri goal, right on the stroke of time, was mere consolation for Pasta Poiatti even though the goal was the pick of the bunch.