With Rabat Depiro needing two points from their remaining three matches to wrap up the 2005/06 Championship, the battle is on from the runner-up spot and following Sunday's matches, Sliema Hs have gained a slight edge for the time being. On Sunday they beat Britannia Tours by 5 goals to one while The Hunters’ Tower suffered two goals in the final fifteen minutes as Poiatti Qormi came from a goal down to win 2-1.

Poiatti Qormi’s recent good form continued on Sunday when they came from a goal behind and beat The Hunters’ Tower 2-1 and at the same time move within two points of third spot. With five points from the first two rounds, Poiatti seemed destined to end the league on a low, but back to back victories at the start of the third and final round has worked miracles on their morale.

On Sunday they suffered an early goal as Hughes put The Hunters’ Tower in the lead after barely 4 minutes and the first part of the game saw The Hunters’ Tower in complete control with Abdilla hitting the side netting, Magro the upright and Camilleri seeing Poiatti’s goalkeeper save well. After 25 minutes came the first signs of reaction from Qormi with Magri doing his best to get his teammates going. The Hunters’ Tower created a further two chances before almost on the stroke of half time Poiatti had their best chance but Cuschieri failed to make contact with a Magri deflection.

The start to the second half was rather scrappy as Poiatti began to put pressure on their opponents with Jonathan Borg causing them all sorts of problems.

In fact after 19 minutes one of his runs into the dee forced an intentional infringement from The Hunters’ Tower defence and from the resultant penalty stroke the same Borg equalized. Both teams now went for the winner and after 28 minutes Qormi struck. On a fast break once again it was Jonathan Borg who picked up Magri who, despite being marked by three defenders, managed to slip the ball into the net. The Hunters Tower tried to react but their short corner set pieces were not giving results and Poiatti held on to the three points.

In the second game of the day Sliema HS consolidated their second place with a 5-1 victory over Britannia Tours WH. The game was fairly balanced until the first goal went in. After that it was all one-way traffic. Liam Pace put Sliema in the lead from a short corner move and before the half was up Simon Baldacchino doubled the score when he deflected in a Keith Vella attempt.

With the first heat of the season making itself felt, the game was played at a lethargic pace but Sliema scored three further goals through Liam Pace (2) and Simon Baldacchino before Busutill Leaver pulled one back for Britannia Tours from the penalty spot late in the game.

Britannia Tours now face The Hunters’ Tower as the Blue Label National League continues on Sunday. The second game of the day will see Rabat Depiro hoping to secure the two points they need to secure their fifth consecutive title when they take on Poiatti Qormi.

The weekend is also characterised by the visit of a veteran’s side, Neo’s Old Georgians, who will be playing three matches against local opposition. Today they will face a Young Stars veteran’s selection at 19.00 while tomorrow, at the same time, it will be the turn of a White Hart/Sliema HS selection. Their tour will come to an end on Sunday at 13.00 with a game against a HAM selection.