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Success in Athens, Rabat Depiro Promoted.
Rabat Depiro have been promoted a division in the EUROHOCKEY CLUB CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE after beating Aker 5-1. Rabat have not only been promoted themselves but they have also promoted our Nation into the next division.
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Rabat Depiro Vs Sliema Hs 3 - 2 (KO Final) Scorer: Branko Radojevic (3)
On paper we were the favorites to win this game when considering the good form the team has been going through lately and the fact that Sliema Hs had M Caruana Smith & Andrei Imbroll missing. However the game wasn't exactly a push-over and Sliema did their very best to win the game, which in my opinion they weren't far off. A goal in the last 10 minutes of the game would have put them in a favorable situation and they had a couple of opportunities to do so. However, their goal-scoring chances didn't materialize and we got the KO as well, making it a clean sweep for this season. An excellent game by Branko Radojevic who apart from scoring all 3 goals had an impressive game in the mid-field.
Robert Aquilina ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rabat Depiro Vs White Hart 2 - 0 Rabat Depiro Vs Young Stars 1 - 2
The last two games of the national league are over, we didn't manage to remain unbeaten as we lost to Young Stars (1-2) in the last game. Whilst we didn't play as bad as the previous game against White Hart, Young Stars were in better shape and we had no great pressure. Now we should be focusing to regain the form in the KO, to maintain the momentum for the European Club Challenge.
Robert Aquilina Final Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 9th April 2006 - Rabat Depiro Vs Qormi 3 - 1
Mission Accomplished! with two games left to be played, according to our statistician, Chris Bugeja, this was the earliest securing of a National League. Tough game in many aspects, but i have to single out the contribution of Branko Radojevic. He had an excellent game and did much of the damage as Kevin was tightly marked, apart from the fact that he scored another two intelligent goals, and goals that mattered.
Robert Aquilina Updated Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 27th March 2006 - Rabat Depiro Vs Sliema Hs 6 - 1 Scorers: Branko Radojevic (2) Shawn Falzon, Josef Antonelli, Jonathan Seychell
Two points away from a historic Fifth Consecutive Title
This was obviously the most important result obtained ... that puts us 7 points ahead of the same Sliema Hs with 3 games to go (9 points). Its good that we secure the league early so that we will be able to focus our attention on Athens in June.
Robert Aquilina Updated Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hockey Association Report - Sunday 12th March 2006
Rabat Depiro Homing In On Fifth Consecutive Title.
The second round of the Blue Label National league came to an end on Sunday and Rabat Depiro increased their lead at the top of the table to four points after their 1-0 victory over The Hunters� Tower and Sliema�s 0-0 draw with Poiatti Qormi. This advantage should be good enough for Rabat to clinch their fifth consecutive title and equal the record set by Young Stars between 1978/79 and 1882/83.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sunday 12th March 2006 - Rabat Depiro Vs Young Stars 1 - 0 Scorer: Jason Vella
This was the game of Ian Azzopardi (il-Pele) for the number of saves he made in short-corners and crowning an excellent performance with saving a penalty stroke. Our level of play was not as good as the previous week and the performance of certain players was below average. We definitely played better in the second half and produced some good scoring opportunities, but converted only one. The result of the second game puts us at a 4 point advantage at the top and I'm confident that we will keep the momentum to make it 5 in a row
Robert Aquilina Updated Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 5th March 2006 - Rabat Depiro Vs White Hart 5 - 1 Scorers: Josef Antonelli, Branko Radojevic, Jason Vella, Kevin Micallef, Robert Aquilina
The first round game against WH was a 1-0 score which in my opinion was a close encounter, and we could have lost 2 precious points, but thanks to a much improved performance from most of the players, we obtained a good result this time round. Worth mentioning is the performance of Rene Antonelli, who distributed some good passes in front. We missed a couple of good chances, but on the positive side we had a couple of good patches of effective teamwork. Following the result of the second game, where Young Stars - Sliema Hs ended in a 1-1 draw, we are now at the top of the table.
Robert Aquilina Updated Standings
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Sunday 26th February 2006, Rabat Depiro Vs Qormi 3-1
A good game! that was the general comment of those involved and I agree with the conclusion. Qormi were a much improved side than the dismal performance of the previous weekend. Our first 20 minutes were below average but on the whole we played well and in many phases of the game we were better.
Robert Aquilina Updated Standings
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19th February 2006
Sliema Hs Vs White Hart 4 -3
A game that did not produce much quality hockey but many goals. Most of the goals were scored as a result of defensive errors more that good attacking play. At one point in the second half, Sliema Hs were leading 4-1 but the WH youngsters kept trying till the end, to obtain a respectable results, which they did.
Young Stars Vs Qormi 5 - 1
Young Stars played much better than previous games and I suspect that Qormi are playing worse. Didn't see much of the game but what struck me most is the quality of some Qormi players and in the same time the inability to do something good collectively.
Robert Aquilina
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12th February 2006, Rabat Depiro Vs Sliema Hs 2 - 2
Tough game when you are 2-0 down in the beginning of the game and face a team defending with all their players, most of them skilful. The performance of the team in the first 20 minutes was dismal, no one knew what to do accept pass the ball. To make matters worse Kevin didn't start the game and the two goals were like a cold shower. Later on we started to perform better and as time passed Hs were getting tired of continuous pressure for long periods of time. But the game was being stopped by the umpires for petty reasons and we were loosing the momentum of our play at times. Kevin was always optimistic that we will get the goal and he did it himself after a couple of intelligent drives towards the Hs circle. The umpiring was biased against us but we were mentally prepared for the assault and we managed better than the same game of the first round with the same two!
My conclusion is that we have to be much better and consistent if we are to go to Athens and give a good challenge.
Robert Aquilina
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Hockey Association Report - Sunday 29/01/2006
Rabat and Sliema Lead At End of First Round
The first round of the Blue Label National League came to an end on Sunday and Rabat Depiro and Sliema Hs have extended their lead at the top of the table after victories against The Hunters Tower Rest.YS and Poiatti Qormi respectively. There will be no National League matches this weekend but when the competition resumes on the 12th February the two top sides will be facing off against each other.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hockey Association Report - Sunday 22/01/2006
Sliema Hs Inflict First Defeat on The Hunters� Tower Rest YS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rabat Depiro Vs White Hart 1-0
A game where we could have wasted 2 points easily. Luck wasn't on our side and WH defended with all their players and did a good job out of it. WH goalie Andrew Galea had an excellent match and our forwards weren't operating comfortably in a crowded circle. One interesting fact is that out of the 40 short corners that we obtained we failed to score any of them.
Robert Aquilina
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hockey Association Report - Sunday 15/01/2006
Identical Victories for The Hunters Tower Rest and Rabat Depiro
The Blue Label National League continued on Sunday and once more those hockey enthusiasts who braved the bad weather were rewarded with a good number of goals from the scheduled two games. Both games finished with an identical score line, with The Hunters Tower Rest YS beating Britannia Tours WH 4-0 and Rabat doing the same against Qormi Poiatti. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ New Year's Eve Party
The start of the New Year 2006 was celebrated by the club at the Depiro Youth Centre in Rabat. the event was a success and was attended by most of the players including families and friends.
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Charlie Cassar leaves for Sliema Hs
Charlie Cassar who was inactive for the past year due to injury, has left the club to play for Sliema Hs. We thank Charlie for his services to the club and we wish him the best of luck with his new club.
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Hockey Association Report - Sunday 04/12/2005
RABAT
DEPIRO TAKE
SECOND HONOUR OF THE SEASON
The second competition organized by the Hockey Association came to an end on Sunday with Rabat Depiro picking up their second honour of the season; their fourth this calendar year. In a competition in which they have rarely found success, (this was their second victory in this competition) . . . . . . . . . . . .
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