Week seven of the current Middlesea Valletta Life National League saw leaders Fina First drop two points in their victory over The Clan, while Ramis took all eight from Blasters meaning they replace The Clan in the second spot, narrowing their gap on Fina to eight points. Turu’s Knights also claimed a 100% win over PharmaVet to go fourth, while elsewhere there were 6 point wins for HSBC against NINE, and Globalair Travel over Royal Shock.
Fina First’s opening game of 829 would normally secure a two point lead in most matches, but a great 847 from their opponents The Clan meant it was the latter who claimed the early advantage. Fina then managed to level the match with an 803-747 game two win, before going on to take the decider 784-741, and so the series by 81 pins (2,416-2,335). Mark Spiteri (Fina First), 629. Ray Falzon Reale (The Clan), 577.
Fina’s eternal Rivals Ramis managed to gain some ground thanks to their full point win over Blasters, one of only two such victories in week seven. Ramis’ rout began with a 777-743 opening win, and they were soon four points ahead after taking game two easily, 765-695. Game three finished with a 750-725 Ramis win to complete the whitewash, and send the winners back up tow second place, eight behind the lead. Kenneth Arpa (Ramis), 668, Bowler of the week. Lawrence Bonnici & Doris Camilleri (Blasters), both on 525 pins.
Turu’s Knights clocked the only other 100% win of the night, sixth placed PharmaVet finishing on the losing side of the result. Game one was a real thriller, the Knights just scraping home 806-796, and then they doubled their lead by taking game two 733-712, another close encounter. The last of the set could also have gone either way, but Turu’s clinched it 736-713 for all eight match points. Philippe Vancell (Turu’s Knights), 575. Steve Cassar (PharmaVet), 578.
Globalair Travel (fifth) picked up a six point win against ninth placed Royal Shock, in spite of an early set back as they lost the first of the set 702-612. They made amends for that heavy defeat by taking game two 696-792, before taking the match with a 728-785 win in game three. Neil Sullivan (Globalair Travel), 602. Joe Cassar (Royal Shock), 558.
HSBC climbed another notch closer to top flight survival thanks to their 6-2 beating of NINE who seem destined to stay bottom for the season’s duration. HSBC opened with the game of the week, a brilliant 889 against NINE’s insignificant 663 effort, and it was soon 4-0 due to a 762-684 win in the second. NINE finally got pulled together in game three, taking advantage of a low HSBC game to win it 671-726 for their quarter share of the spoils. The win keeps HSBC in eighth place, ten points clear of the relegation zone. Bertram Vella (HSBC), 650. Carl Borg (NINE), 511.
Bowlers of the Week
Kenneth Arpa (Ramis), 668; Sue Abela (Fina First), 584
Standings - Division I, Week 7
Fina First-46, Ramis-38, The Clan-36, Turu’s Knights-36, Globalair Travel-30, PharmaVet-30, Blasters-24, HSBC-22, Royal Shock-12, NINE-6
Standings - Division II, Week 7
Café Ole-44, Wasodol-36, Vintage-35, Bank of Valletta-32, Baboons-28, Gladiators-26, J Grima & Co-24, Blitzkrieg-22, Supreme-17, Touch of Class-16