The new season of the MTBA National League has rolled off at the Eden SuperBowl, St. Julian’s, where last season’s champions Aercomms have begun their efforts to hang onto their title with an easy 8-0 beating of Sammy’s Emboideries.
Alley Catz also took all eight points, making short work of Division I newcomers Fireballs and claiming the high series of the week in doing so, while there were also full point victories for New Blood (ex-Rascals) and Ramis against Storm II and O’Casey’s respectively.
Aercomms are taking their newly gained league crown seriously, and look like they mean business after cruising to an 8-0 win against Sammy’s Embroideries in this opening week.
They stamped their seal on the match with an excellent 893 in game one including a great 247 from Mark Bugeja. That was a massive 227 better than their inadequate opponents who only managed a 666.
The champions went on to make sure of a match win with a 794-754 win in game two, and took it all the way home by winning 760-711 in the third. Mark Bugeja (Aercomms)-677, Bowler of the Week. Manwel Saliba (Sammy’s Embroideries), 519.
Alley Catz were also big winners, rolling a fine 2,465 set in their 0-8 drubbing of newly promoted Fireballs, both teams largely made up of National Youth Squad bowlers. Fireballs certainly didn’t give a poor performance and would surely have made the scoreboard against other opponents, but the Catz were just too strong for them on the night as the game scores progressed; 764-842, 780-789, 741-834.
Better luck next time for the Fireballs who with their wealth of young talent should be able to make an impression in the top flight this season. Nathan Brimmer (Alley Catz), 609. Dean Micallef (Fireballs), 559.
It was a case of easy pickings for New Blood (ex-Rascals) who claimed all eight points on offer against a poor Storm II side in week one, the latter having escaped relegation last season thanks to team drop-outs. New Blood opened up a considerable early lead with a 661-752 win in the first game, backing that up with a 715-787 victory in game two. Storm II had given up all hope of salvaging anything from the confrontation as game three also fell to New Blood 707-729. Andre Grech (New Blood), 560. Paul Gray (Storm II), 533.
The last of four full-point wins went to Ramis, with other Division I newcomers O’Casey’s on the receiving end of the beating. Ramis were 98 pins ahead after their opening win of 682-780, although game two was a lot closer with Ramis only just clinching it by seven pins, 734-741.
O’Casey’s were sub-700 again in the third which Ramis also won 678-725. O’Casey’s will have to put on better displays than this should they intend holding Div I status beyond thisnew season. Charles Farrugia (Ramis), 575. Pam D’Emanuele (O’Casey’s), 539.
There were similar majority wins for the two Fina teams, the first going to Fina First who won 2-6 against Globalair Travel. Although Fina First tore their adversaries apart with a 728-832 hammering in game one, they seemed to lack consistency and allowed Globalair to level the match with a 731-709 equaliser in game two. Globalair were now looking for at least a draw with a win in game three, but it wasn’t to be as Fina First recovered to win it 735-760 and so claim the lion’s share of the points. Mauro Anastasi (Fina First), 595. Clive Saliba (Globalair Travel), 553.
Fina Excel’s 6-2 result came against Right Deal. As if mirroring their stable mates progress, Excel drew first blood by winning game one 752-717 before Right Deal pulled back the two points with a 693-726 win in the second. Fina Excel improved to a 784 in game three against Right Deal’s 731 to make sure of the match win. Mark Spiteri (Fina Excel), 614. Daniel Swift (Right Deal), 568.
Standings- Division I, Week 1
Alley Catz-8, Aercomms-8, New Blood-8, Ramis-8, Fina First-6, Fina Excel-6, Globalair Travel-2, Right Deal-2, Fireballs-0, Sammy’s Embroideries-0, O’Casey’s-0, Storm II-0
Bowlers of the Week
Mark Bugeja (Aercomms) 677; Sue Abela (Fina First) 551