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HAM

- Top two clash on Sunday.


On Sunday two further matches were played from the National League and Champions Punch & Judy kept up their accelerated start to the league, scoring another five goals this time against Celtics YS who had the audacity to take the lead but finally had to succumb 5-1. The Hunters Tower Rest. came back twice from a goal down to finally beat The George Pub 4-2. The Hunters Tower Rest. have now moved two points behind the leaders. The two teams will face off on Sunday at 9.00am. The game is far from decisive, with plenty of matches still to be played, but victory will be moral boasting for the team that takes the three points.

Punch & Judy Rabat 5 vs. Celtics YS 1
H.T. 1-1
Umpires: Paul Brincat and Ray Micallef

Punch & Judy notched up their third consecutive victory and for the third time fired in five goals past their opponents. This time they were given a shock when they went behind to a Frankie Bugeja goal. However Celtics could not hold to their lead until the break and almost on the stroke of half-time league top-scorer Josef Antonelli came to the Champion's rescue and Punch & Judy equalised. The second half was an entirely different matter as by the end of the game Rabat had romped home to another easy victory. Not to out down by his brother, Renee Antonelli netted a neat double while Charles Cassar and Jason Vella got the other two goals for Punch & Judy. Rabat will now face The Hunters Tower Rest in a match that should be a real test of their strength. It's doubtful however if they will maintain their five goals per match scoring rate.

The Hunters Tower Rest 4 vs. The George Pub 2
H.T. 2-2
Umpires: Robert Aquilina and Manuel Imbroll

In the second game of the day The Hunters Tower Rest. kept within striking distance of the leaders when they beat The George Pub 4-2 in a match they dominated from start to finish but which they had to fight hard to win. The Hunters Tower Rest. were without their injured skipper Charles Micallef while Tabone's injury list was even longer and The George Pub were without Simon Agius, Patrick Meli (both long term injuries), Clive Tonna and Dejan Mihajlovic. Despite this they took the lead twice in the early minutes of the game, capitalizing on two quick counter attacks. In was Luke Busutill Leaver who put them in the lead after he received from David Agius. Young Stars were soon level from a short corner when Evans swept past two defenders and beat a helpless Galea. The Hunters Tower Rest kept winning short corners but Galea kept Chris Attard on a least four occasions and from another swift break Agius and Busutill combined again to put The George Pub back in the lead. The Hunters Tower Rest. were back on level
terms just before the half-time. This time it was Nicky Agius Darmanin who showed that besides being a capable stage-actor (Prince Charming in this year's MADC Panto) is also a capable hockey player when from an extremely tight angle he got the ball past Galea and into the net.

In the second half The George Pub tighten their mid-field but this left Busutill Leaver isolated up front and mid-way through the half Evans scored again to put The Hunters Tower Rest into the lead for the first time. White Hart tried to react and in the final minutes put some pressure on the Young Stars defence but a third goal from Evans, again from a short corner, killed the game defiantly.

Standings:

P W D L F A PTS
Punch & Judy Rabat 3 3 0 0 15 2 9
The Hunters Tower Rest 3 2 1 0 6 2 7
Sliema Hs. 2 1 1 0 3 1 4
The George Pub 3 1 0 2 5 9 3
Celtics YS 3 0 0 3 2 10 0
Pasta Poiatti Qormi 2 0 0 2 0 7 0

Top Scorer: Josef Antonelli (Punch & Judy): 7 goals.

The League continues on Sunday with two further matches with the 9:00am match between Punch & Judy Rabat and The Hunters Tower Rest without doubt the pick of the weekend. So far Rabat have taken the Super Cup with a victory over Young Stars while the Floriana side won the Challenge Cup thanks to a penalty stroke victory over Rabat. The game is to close to call as is the second game between Sliema Hs and Pasta Poiatti Qormi at 11.00. Earlier on, in the first round, Pasta Poiatti beat their opponents 2-1.

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