Rabat make a clean sweep

Season 2005/06 will go down as a memorable one for Rabat Depiro as they made a complete sweep of the honours of the Hockey Association. Following the Super Cup, Challenge Cup and League, on Sunday they clinched the K.O. Trophy after a hard fought battle against Sliema Hs.

While Rabat had all their players available, Sliema were without the suspended Michael Caruana Smith and without the long term injured players Andrei Imbroll and Charles Cassar. The Sliema game plan was evident from the start as they set up a defensive barrier to block out the Rabat attaks and then reply on the counter. Rabat were soon on the attack as Jason Vella put a good ball into the dee but Jonathan Seychell failed to make contact. After six minutes Sliema counter attacked and won a short corner which Ray Bezzina duely fired into the net to put Sliema in the net.

Rabat reacted but Sliema's crowded mid-field was giving them problems and at times they were over elaborate.Robert Aquilina put Josef Antonelli through but his conclusion went wide. Two consecutive short corners failed to produce anything but after 22 minutes another short corner move saw Rabat equalize as Branko Radojevic fired in an unstoppable hit.

Rabat pressed home their advantage and six minutes later forged ahead and once again it was Radojevic who scored after he was set up by Kevin Micallef. The half ended with Rabat 2- 1 ahead.

The second half opened with Rabat determined to tie up the game but again they were stunned as Sliema forced two consecutive short corners and from the second Bezzina got his second and equalised. Sliema's joy was howeever short lived as barely three minutes later it was Radojovic, albeit helped by a kind deflection, who scored again and put his side once again in the lead. Sliema seemed to be hard hit by this goal and it was Rabat who kept on creating chances. Jason Vella hit wide and Radojevic almost got a fourth but his hit was stopped on the line by Ramon Caruana Smith. Luke Mallia saved well off Seychell and after 29 minutes Mallia kept his team in the game when he made an excellant save off a Chris Bugeja penalty stroke. The final minute saw both sides fail to convert a number of short corners, and the final whistle sanctioned Rabat's third consecutive double victory but above all complete monopoly on this year's hockey honours.