RABAT EXTEND THEIR LEAD AT THE TOP

RABAT EXTEND THEIR LEAD AT THE TOP

The second round of the national league got underway on Sunday with Ta’ Soldi Rabat extending their lead at the top after beating BDO Hs 1-0, while in the other Sunday’s game Qormi Poiatti saw off The Hunters Tower YS 4-2.

Sunday’s first game was interesting fare as Qormi Poiatti got the better of The Hunters Tower YS and caught up with them in second place.

Two goals from Jonathan Borg put Qormi in a commanding position and even though Mark Camilleri pulled one back for The Hunters Tower, Ryan Gatt restored the two goal lead before half time.

Early pressure from The Hunters Tower in the second half, saw Poiatti goalkeeper, Chircop, come out with flying colours even though he could nothing to stop Luke Busutill Leaver from pulling one back for Young Stars.

Despite their efforts, they could not get any further and late in the game it was Jonathan Borg who crowned a five-star performance with his third goal and Qormi’s fourth.

A solitary goal from Jeffrey Aquilina early in the game was enough for Ta’ Soldi Rabat to take all three points from their match against BDO Hs.

It was a below par performance from the Rabat side but enough on the day against a BDO side in which sheer determination and the heroics of goalkeeper Luke Mallia were not enough. The chances to score were certainly there but were not taken.

The long term absence through injury of Liam Pace is certainly having an effect and to make matters worse, new signing John Grima (a former front man with Qormi and White Hart), had to be pulled off early in the second half with two dislocated fingers.

There will be no senior matches this weekend as the Association dedicates this weekend to junior hockey and specifically to tournaments dedicated to the memory of Emma Housley who died tragically two years ago.

Saturday will be reserved for the U-14 teams while Sunday will see the U-16s in action. Both tournaments start at 9.00am. The National league will resume on the 18th of February with Ta’ Soldi vs. Britannia Tours WH (9.00am) and The Hunters Tower YS (11.00am).

In the meantime two local clubs continue with their preparations for their participation in the European Hockey Federation’s club competitions.

Between the 24th and 27th May, Ta’ Soldi Rabat will be in Rome defending their newly acquired position in the EuroHockey Club Champions Challenge I (Men).

In Pool A, they will be facing Olimpic Vinnitsa (Ukraine), CFU Lamas (Portugal) and HC Roma (Italy). Pool B will have GH 1951 (Gibraltar), HAHK Mladost (Croatia), Orient Lyngby (Denmark) and KPH Raca (Slovakia).

Between the 5th and 8th April, BDO Hs will be participating in, and hosting at the Corradino Hockey Complex the EuroHockey Cup Winners Challenge (Men).

This will be a first participation for the Sliema side and they have been pooled in Group B together with Eagles HC (Gibraltar), Slagelse HC (Den) and Seinajoki United (Finland).

Group A will see HK Zelina (Croatia), Cardiff University (Wales), Rosco Budapest HC (Hungary) and RCOR-MIF Minsk (Belarus).