Current champions have been knocked off the top spot in week three of the MTBA National Leagues at the Eden SuperBowl, having suffered a surprise 2 – 6 beating at the hands of Right Deal. In fact Aercomms slip to fourth place due to eight point wins for Fina First who thrashed O’Casey’s in style to go top, while a similar victory for Ramis over Sammy’s Embroideries put them into second place. A draw for New Blood was enough to give them third place, and the second chocker of the night was a 1 – 7 drubbing of Fina Excel by Fireballs.

Right Deal threw Aercomms’ title retention plans off course, beating them 2 – 6 as the current league champions showed little of the form that gained them all sixteen points from their previous two matches. It was Aercomms who opened the scoring, taking game one 751 – 708, their minds surely set on another big victory. Their hopes were given a jolt in game two however, when Right Deal came back to level it by the narrowest possible of margins, 743 – 744 the game score. Aercomms still had a reasonable pin advantage and were hopeful of coming back to win, or at least get the draw. That wasn’t to be however, as Right Deal could sense victory and produced the best team game of their series, winning 708 – 775 to clinch the game as well as the series points by 25 pins, 2202 – 2227. Colin Attard (Right Deal), 590 pins.

Fina First were simply a cut above the rest of the top flight this week, rolling a huge 2563 series as they demolished O’Casey’s who are still on zero points this season. The opener was Fina’s best of the set as they saw off the opposition 893 – 763 to open up a 130 pin lead straight away. That was more than doubled in game two which they won 865 – 710, before winding up with an 805 – 762 win in the third to complete the rout and put themselves on the top spot, sending out a clear message to the rest of the field as to their intentions this season. Dennis Mercieca (Fina First), 713. Beppe Abela (O’Casey’s), 549.

Ramis are on the same amount of points (22) as Fina First, but lie second due to their lower pinfall total having easily disposed of Sammy’s Embroideries in week three. Ramis opened strongly with an 807 game against a 737 from O’Casey’s, before really opening up the game with a 727 – 644 win in game two. They completed the whitewash with a 745 – 727 win in game three. Benny Hili (Ramis), 579. Manwel Saliba (Sammy;s Embroideries), 577.

There was a shock for Fina Excel who faced Fireballs this week, finishing on the wrong end of a 1 – 7 score line. The teams shared the points with a 752 – 752 draw in game one and it was all downhill for Excel from there. Fireballs took game two 759 – 780 and then the last of the series by just five pins (750 – 755). This is the first win for Fireballs who hadn’t picked up any points from the first two matches, Div I survival being their priority this season. Ramon Casha (Fireballs), 573. Mark Spiteri (Fina Excel), 665.

New Blood are now third having shared the eight match points with Globalair Travel who lie in sixth place. Globlair can thank their big win margin in the first game (807 – 718) for their 4-point share, as New Blood bounced back to take game two 729 – 785 and then game three 734 – 743. Thanks to their opening win, Globalair Travel forced the draw with a 24 pins advantage on the series (2270 – 2246). Clive Saliba (Globalair Travel), 587. Anthony Paris (New Blood), 557.

Storm II finally got onto the scoreboard by beating Alley Catz 6 – 2 in their clash. The first two games swung the match for Storm II, who took game one 760 – 688, and then game two 826 – 751 to take a 147pin cushion into the third. This was where the Catz claimed their two point share, winning it 724 – 767 to leave Storm II 204 over on the set. Martin Deguara (Storm II) 557. Nathan Brimmer (Alley Catz), 547.

Division I Standings - Week 3

Fina First – 22, Ramis – 22, New Blood – 20, Aercomms – 18, Fina Excel – 15, Globalair Travel – 14, Alley Catz – 10, Right Deal – 10, Fireballs – 7, Storm II – 6, O’Casey’s – 0, Sammy’s Embroideries – 0

Bowlers of the Week

Dennis Mercieca (713) Fina First

Pam D’Emanuele (548) O’Casey’s