Ten weeks of the current MTBA National League have now been completed at the Eden SuperBowl, and as the Division I season approaches its half-way mark.
Fina First have again stretched their lead at the top with a win over New Blood (4th). They are now ten points clear after second placed chasers Aercomms could only manage a draw against the Alley Catz. This week saw full point victories for Fina Excel over Ramis allowing them to leap to third place, and also Right Deal (8th) against Fireballs who seem to be stuck in the drop zone and can do very little about it.
Fina First’s week ten clash with New Blood opened with a thrilling first game which went right down to the wire, Fina only just clinching the points by a single pin (760-761).
After such a close encounter Fina could breathe more easily in game two, which they managed to win by an easier 69 pin margin (730-799) to give them a cushion of 70 pins heading into the final game. The leaders’ game suffered badly in game three, when they were in danger of squandering for the lead and settling for a draw, as they lost it 718-666, just hanging on to the majority win by 18 pins over the series (2,208-2,226). Mark Muscat (Fina First), 568. Lawrence Bonnici (New Blood), 545.
Aercomms drew four all with plucky Alley Catz this week, thus allowing Fina First to slip a further two points ahead at the top. The young Alley Catz outfit slaughtered the defending champions in game one, strolling to a 785-691 win to open the scoring in their favour, before Aercomms came back to square the match by winning game two by fifty pins (647-697). Alley Catz were grateful of their 44 pin lead as the close third game progressed, and eventually fell to Aercomms by just 13 pins (724-737), meaning the Catz picked up the series pins to claim they draw. Ray Falzon Reale (Aercomms), 571. Philippe Vancell (Alley Catz), 610.
Fina Excel easily took all eight from Ramis in the first of two 100% victories from Div I in week ten. They won the opener by eighty pins (700-780), and were another 36 ahead with a 725-761 result in game two. The whitewash was completed with a big 759-801 in the third to help Excel move up into third place. Rankin Camilleri (Fina Excel), 648. Roy Swift (Ramis), 562.
Right Deal picked up the highest team score of the week in their 0-8 demolition of Fireballs, who lie second from bottom in a now clearly defined relegation zone.
Danial Swift led his Right Deal team mates to victory by shooting a 237 in the 717-786 opener, and a 243 in game two which ended 709-891. A 666-785 win in the third made it 0-8 to Right Deal. All of the week’s honours went to the Right Deal side as they claimed the highest team series of the week (2,462), as well as both Bowler of the Week awards for Danial Swift who completed a 679 set, and Melissa Camenzuli who managed a good 606. Stephanie Said (Fireballs), 511.
Sixth placed Globalair Travel were 7-1 winners in their match against Storm II who are now ninth, a tied second game robbing them of a full-point victory. The started with a strong 767-686 winner in game one, before sharing the points with their 763-all tie in the second. Game three was close again but Globalair held on to clinch it by just 12 pins, 722-710. Simon Burke (Globalair Travel), 618. Neil Sullivan (Storm II), 594.
Bottom side O’Caseys came out on the better end of a 2-6 score line from their clash with Sammy’s Embroideries, who are tenth. O’Caseys claimed the first of the set with an easy 672-738 win, only to see Sammy’s Embroideries bounce back with a 737-708 equaliser in game two. O’Caseys had the edge as game three commenced, and their 714-732 win assured them of their lion’s share victory. Beppe Abela (O’Caseys), 594. Sammy Borg (Sammy’s Embroideries), 539.
Standings - Division I
Fina First-70, Aercomms-60, Fina Excel-55, New Blood-50, Ramis-48, Globalair Travel-43, Alley Catz-42, Right Deal-34, Storm II -31, Sammy’s Embroideries-18, Fireballs-17, O’Caseys-12
Bowlers of the week
Danial Swift (Right Deal) 679; Melissa Camenzuli (Right Deal) 606.