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HAM

The hockey national league resumed over the weekend with a full programme of three matches. On Saturday, in the match between the two teams chasing Punch & Judy for the title, The Hunters Tower Rest beat Sliema Hs thanks to a David Evans goal two minutes from time. Thanks to this win The Hunters Tower Rest remain in the running for the final honour while Sliema Hs title aspirations, barring a serious of unlikely results, will have to be shelved once again.

On Sunday Punch & Judy responded to The Hunters Tower Rest Victory with a 6-1 drubbing of Pasta Poiatti Qormi while The George Pub made use of all their experience to hand Celtics a 4-1 defeat.

With three matches to be played the league table is as follows:

P W D L F A PTS
Punch & Judy Rabat 12 10 0 2 42 10 30
The Hunters Tower Rest 12 8 3 1 19 8 27
Sliema Hs. 12 7 3 2 19 14 24
The George Pub 12 3 3 6 18 28 12
Pasta Poiatti Qormi 12 1 2 9 7 27 5
Celtics YS 12 1 1 10 13 32 4

Leading Scorers: 14 goals - Josef Antonelli (Punch & Judy);
9 goals - Chris Bugeja (Celtics YS), Liam Pace (Sliema Hs).

The game on Saturday between The Hunters Rest and Sliema Hs was another tight affair and both sides were conscious of the importance of the points at stake. Scoring chances were rare and far between although in the first half Young Stars had a slight edge. The game opened up in the second half with both sides creating a number of scoring chances. When all looked set for a drawn result that would have only pleased Punch & Judy, David Evans struck with a well taken goal that kept his side on track.

In Sunday's first game The George Pub beat Celtics with a 4-1 score line that does not do justice to the losers. Celtics opted for an attacking game and thus played right into the hands of a street-wise The George Pub side. After barely 11M The George Pub had taken the lead when Luke Busutill Leaver set up Radojevic who beat Abdilla from close range. Celtics reacted well and had clear chances with Bonello and Chris Bugeja who was unlucky two minutes from half time when he hit the post. In the space of two minutes between the 8th and 10th minute of the second half The George Pub put the game beyond Celtics thanks to two goals from Luke Busutill Leaver, the second from a penalty stroke. Celtics pulled one back thanks to another penalty stroke scored by Chris Bugeja. Celtics created further scoring opportunities through Ghio and the same Bugeja but five minutes from side Busutill Leaver sealed his hat-trick when he robbed Camilleri of the ball, rounded Abdilla and slotted into an empty net.

Punch & Judy broke little sweat in disposing of the challenge of a Pasta Poiatti side shorn of the services of the suspended Micallef, Chircop and Magri. A half time lead of 2-0 was increased by a further three goals before David Housely pulled one back for Qormi. Before the final whistle Pasta Poiatti's goalkeeper Azzopardi saved a penalty before Rabat rounded of a half dozen in the final minutes. For the record Punch & Judy's goals were scored by Josef Antonelli (4) and Jason Vella (2).

All teams now have three games to play. Leaders Punch & Judy, on paper, have the more problematic run in, with matches against Celtics (on Sunday at 11.00), The Hunters Tower Rest (2.5.04) and Sliema Hs on the final day (15.5.04). The Hunters Tower face The George Pub on Sunday, the all important one against Punch & Judy and round off the campaign against Celtics on the final day of the league.

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