The hockey National League for season 2018/2019 got underway on Sunday with the first two matches.
The first match saw Rabat Depiro face White Hart in a match between sides that will be doing their best to avoid the bottom of the table. White Hart had a positive start to the season with a victory over the same Rabat in the Challenge Cup; couple with the 3rd place in the same competition following a 2-1 over Floriana Young Stars. As it was, they had a rather poor day on Sunday, and Rabat took advantage to earn a moral boasting 2-0 victory. James Azzopardi opened the scored on 27 minutes and Charlot Azzopardi sealed the issued in the final minute from the penalty spot.
Reno Cremona and Edward Hughes umpired the game.
Reigning Champions Qormi Daikin began their title defence with an important 3-2 victory against their likely challengers Sliema Hotsticks. Although still early in the season these two sides have already met three times. Sliema had won in the group stages of the Challenge Cup while Qormi had triumphed (after extra time) in the final of the same competition. On Sunday the game was tight, tough and with periods of good hockey. The decisive moments of the game came between the end of the first half and the start of the second when in the space of 7 minutes Qormi scored three goals without reply. Kyle Micallef opened the score right on the whistle of half time while Steve Tanti and Ayrton Falzon scored in the first six minutes of the second half. Sliema reacted and a penalty strike from Silas Plaehn and a field goal from Christian Sammut brought the gap down to one goal but Sliema simply ran out of time.
James Mizzi and Nathan Galea were the umpires of this game.
The League continues on Sunday with the matches from Match Day 2. At 9.00am, Floriana Young Stars make their debut in the League when they face Qormi Daikin while at 11.00am Rabat will face Sliema Hotsticks.
Photos Credit: Andrea Curmi