On Sunday, the second round of the Blue Label National League got underway and joint leaders Rabat Depiro and Sliema Hs faced each other in the first game. As in the first round the game ended in a 2-2 draw with Champions Rabat fighting back from a 2-0 deficit at half time. In the second game of the day Britannia Tours WH picked up their first point of the season following a 2-2 draw against Poiatti Qormi.

The National League’s two top teams produced a highly charged game and interesting game, which although having the inevitable moments of tension was played in good sporting spirit.

The result was the same as the first round and again it was Rabat who enjoyed most of the possession but Sliema put up a strong defensive performance and at the end of the day may regret that they squandered a two-goal half time lead.

In fact after some early attacking from Rabat it was Sliema who drew first blood when from their first short corner they took the lead through Henry Cachia who deflected in a through ball from Michael Caruana Smith.

Rabat tried to pick up their game but they seemed lethargic and their game was restricted to a lot of passing but very few attempts to penetrate the Sliema rearguard. Sliema socked it out and burst out of defence in fast breaks with Baldacchino and Pace.

A few minutes before the half time whistle Sliema doubled through fullback Shawn Mifsud who followed up another fast break and was on hand to beat Azzopardi after the Rabat goalkeeper had stopped a first attempt at goal.

It was inevitable that the second would see heavy pressure from Rabat and so it was and Sliema began to defend deeper in their half. Rabat’s schemer, Kevin Micallef, who had a rather quiet first half got into the thick of things as he led his team mates against the Sliema barrier.

Sliema’s breaks out of defence were becoming rare but they remain a source of worry to the Rabat defence who were defending almost on the half pitch. When Micallef finally broke the defence and reduced the gap, a high-pressure end to the game was inevitable.

Rabat doubled their efforts as Sliema began to lose their earlier composure. Fifteen minutes from time came the decisive moment. Sliema broke from defence and found themselves with four players against two Rabat defenders.

Vella picked up Caruana Smith who laid the ball on to Liam Pace one on one with the goalkeeper. Pace incredibly flicked wide. Rabat quickly pushed forward with Jason Vella allowed to penetrate deep into the Sliema dee. His cross from the by - line found Jeffrey Aquilina on the penalty spot and he smashed the ball into the net to equalize.

At this point Rabat seemed to pause and the game seemed to fizzle out even though Rabat did have a couple of short corners right on the stroke of time that caused some anxious moments to the Sliema defence.

In the second game of the day Poiatti Qormi and Britannia Tours WH also fought out a 2-2 draw that saw Britannia Tours break their sequence of defeats and take their first point of the season.

For Qormi it was another disappointing result and they couldn’t have got off to a better start, as after barely 30 seconds they were 1-0 thanks to a goal from Sandro Bartolo. White responded quickly with Tua hitting over the bar following a cross from the right.

The game was evenly balanced with Daniel Micallef clearing off the line for Qormi and Ramon Chircop saving well off Tua. At the other end it was White Hart’s goalkeeper, Galea, who stopped Bartolo right on the stroke of half time.

The second half opened with a bang as Britannia Tours equalised after barely two minutes thanks to Mario Falzon. Qormi had barely found their feet when ten minutes later Patrick Bianchi put White Hart into the lead following a quickly taken free hit from the edge of the dee.

Qormi pushed forward and five minutes later were level again. From a short corner Chris Bugeja set up Daniel Micallef who beat Galea. The game was balanced right to the end with both teams having their scoring chances.

The Blue Label National League continues on Sunday with Sliema Hs taking on Britannia Tours White Hart at 9am while at 11am The Hunters’ Tower Rest start their second round commitments with a match against Poiatti Qormi.