The second round of the national league (the league competition is played over three rounds), got underway on Sunday with two matches. In the first game Qormi Poiatti beat The Hunters Tower YS 4-2, while in the second match a solitary goal was enough for Ta’ Soldi Rabat to overcome BDO Hs. These results saw Ta’ Soldi Rabat extended their lead at the top of the table to six points and the odds against them picking up their sixth consecutive title have certainly shrunk.

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 Busuttil 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. Tomorrow will be reserved for the U-14 teams while Sunday will see the U-16s in action. Both tournaments start at 9am.

The National league will resume on the 18th of February with Ta’ Soldi vs. Britannia Tours WH (9am) and The Hunters Tower YS (11am).