Week two of the MTBA National Leagues at the Eden SuperBowl, St. Julian’s, saw Globalair Travel thrash Alley Catz 0-8, bowling a massive 2,531 series in the process.
No fewer than five of the six matches played ended in 8-point whitewashes, including champions Aercomms’ 8-0 beating of O’Caseys which puts them in the top spot with a 100% win record so far, along with New Blood who have also claimed all 16 points to date after beating Fireballs this week. There were maximum wins also for Fina First against Sammy’s Embroideries and Fina Excel against Storm II.
Aercomms have started the new season where they left off in the previous one, again cruising to an easy 8-0 win over O’Casey’s who are yet to score a single point in this their debut season in Division I. The champions opened the barrage with a 758-719 result in the first of the three games, before improving to a 793-747 win in game two to consolidate their lead. Aercomms’ saved their best till last, marking an 824-698 win in the third to assure themselves of all eight points and the No. 1 spot. Paul Baldacchino (Aercomms, 598 pins, Nikolai Borg (O’Casey’s), 626pins.
Globalair Travel’s 0-8 drubbing of Alley Catz seemed more like a training session, the former steamrolling the opposition with the best team series of the week (2,531 pins) and facing very little resistance. Globalair were 60 pins up after the first game which they won 724-784, before winning game two by an even bigger margin, 758-852. For their finale, Globalair were only just short of a 900 game, 762-895 the result to seal the massive win. Simon Burke (Globalair Travel), 654 pins. Philippe Vancell (Alley Catz), 595 pins.
New Blood are the only other side to have won every game from their first two fixtures, beating Div I newbies 8-0 to go second, level on points with Aercomms. There wasn’t a lot between the two teams during the first two games, but the New Blood had the slight edge, winning both with scores of 713-694 and 731-715 respectively. Game three was more open and New Blood claimed all eight with an easy 782-708 win. Anthony Paris (New Blood), 566 pins. Liliana Said (Fireballs), 516 pins.
Fina First were offered very little opposition in their thrashing of Sammy’s Embroideries, thus picking up their first full point victory of the new season. The rout began with an 809-749 opening win for Fina, which they backed up with a big 857 in game two against their opponents’ 734 effort. The final game ended 778-722 to give Fina First a good series total of 2,444. Dennis Mercieca (Fina First), 658 pins. Manwel Saliba, Giancarlo Tolu (Sammy’s Embroideries), 554 pins.
Fina Excel also picked up all eight points in week two as they took apart bottom side Storm II. The latter were no competition for Excel, handing them three easy wins starting with a 751-708 in game one, followed by a 793-705 in the second and then a 738-708 in game three. Mark Spiteri (Fina Excel), 644 pins. Neil Sullivan (Storm II), 605 pins.
The final match of the week saw a majority win for Ramis over Right Deal. First blood was drawn by Right Deal as they clinched the opener 750-723. Their celebrations were short lived, however, as Ramis bounced back to level the match and take the slight pin advantage by winning the second game 743-806.
The decider was anybody’s game but Ramis just held on to take it 727-734 and so claim their 2-6 match win due to their better total pinfall (2,220-2,263). Roy Swift, John Balani (Ramis), 565 pins. Colin Attard (Right Deal), 551 pins.
Standings - Div. I, Week 2
Aercomms-16, New Blood-16, Fina First-14, Fina Excel-14, Ramis-14, Globalair Travel-10, Alley Catz-8, Right Deal-4, Fireballs-0, Sammy’s Embroideries-0, O’Casey’s-0, Storm II-0
Bowlers of the Week
Dennis Mercieca (Fina First) 658; Anne Marie Bonello (Swoosh - Div II) 537