The hockey national league came to an end on Tuesday with The Hunters Tower YS assuring themselves of the runner-up post thanks to a roller coaster 5-3 victory over Britannia Tours WH.

The final games of the league were played between Sunday and Tuesday. On Sunday Qormi Poiatti kept their hopes for a runner-up placing alive with a 3-0 victory over Britannia Tours WH.

This victory was inspired by Philip Magri who came on as a substitute, scored two goals, and made the third for Rudolph Camilleri. Qormi’s hopes for second place were enhanced following Sunday’s second game when their rivals to the post, The Hunters Tower YS, were comprehensively beaten 4-1 by Champions Ta’ Soldi Rabat.

With a vintage performance, Ta’ Soldi established a 3-0 half time lead to which The Hunters Tower had little reply.

Ta’ Soldi ended their league commitments with another victory and making it 12 out of 12. The fourteen point gap between them and the second placed team says it all on the total supremacy of this team.

For the record, the goals on Sunday were scored by Josef Antonelli (2), Shawn Falzon and Charlot Antonelli for the winners and Luke Busutill Leaver.

The following Sunday’s results saw The Hunters Tower YS enjoy a two point advantage over Qormi Poiatti and both teams were back in action on Tuesday.

The Hunters Tower were first on the pitch and their match against Britannia Tours WH turned out much more difficult then they expected.

At half time the score was 2-1 in their favour with goals from Luke Busutill Leaver and Chris Attard for Young Stars with Reno Bianchi replying for White Hart. Two goals from Mario Falzon and Luke Borg Costanzi turned the game on its head as Britannia Tours took a 3-2 lead. The Hunters Tower were at sixes and sevens as Reno Bianchi missed two golden opportunities to kill the game.

A late rally and three goals from Chris Attard and Ivan Magro (2) set things in order and The Hunters Tower were assured of second place.

The final game of the League saw BDO Hs pick up their second consecutive victory of this rather lacklustre campaign against a rather subdued Qormi Poiatti side. The Qormi players, who had seem their chances of taking a shot at second place shattered by The Hunters Tower final three goal blitz, seemed a disjointed lot as they found it difficult to get around BDO’s well laid out game plan.

Dylan Lentini’s goal mid way through the second half gave all three points to BDO despite Qormi’s strong forcing in the final minutes.

With the league chapter closed, the teams now move on to the final competition of the season, the KO Following their sixth consecutive League titles KO holders Ta’ Soldi Rabat will be all out to set a new record of four consecutive doubles.

Their obstacle in the semi-finals will be BDO Hs. The other semi-final will see Britannia Tours WH face the winner of the preliminary tie between The Hunters Tower YS and Qormi Poiatti.

This game will be played on Sunday while the semi-finals are set for Sunday 20 May.