The 2005 edition of the MTBA National Intermediate and Junior Championships was recently held at the Eden SuperBowl, St. Julian’s, where 2004 Intermediate (U-23) Champions Matthew Caruana and Lorraine Casha managed to hold onto their respective Male and Female titles.

In the Junior (U-16) competition, Justin Caruana Scicluna and Luisa Buttigieg claimed the glory, and both also featured in the second round of the Championships, meaning they were also competing for the Intermediate crowns.

A total of 35 promising young bowlers started of in the opening round of the event, where all would play a total of sixteen games over two sessions, with the goal of making the top eight of both the male and female divisions, and so qualifying to round two. A further four games would follow each bowler only carrying forward half of their previous total score, before the top four male & females would go head-to-head in the stepladder final stage.

Male Division

Caruana turns tables on Anastasi

Round one was a 16-game tussle between Mauro Anastasi and defending champion Matthew Caruana, with Anastasi managing to hold the tight edge over both of the two eight game sessions. An excellent 258-266-217 middle section on day one put Mauro on 1666 pins, just 21 ahead of Matthew’s 1,645, who kicked off well with a 249, then finishing off with a chain of 225-216-213. Up and coming junior bowler Justin Caruana Scicluna held third on 1624 pins, 74 ahead of fourth placed Rankin Camilleri.

Caruana took an early lead on day two thanks to his better start, but then Anastasi shot a stunning 279 in game four, backed up by a solid 224 in the fifth to put him back on top.

He finished the round with a 3,271 (204.4 ave), while Matthew held on in second with 3158 (197.3). Caruana Scicluna remained third on a great 3,149 total (196.8 ave), already sure of the Junior title and going through to round two with a fighting chance of winning the double, while Camilleri also held his position in fourth (3,069, 191.8).

Also through were Peter Mallia, Ramon Casha, Philippe Vancell and Keith Bugeja in fifth to eighth positions respectively.

The group of four would also go on to make up the male stepladder finals after the four second round games, although there were some crucial positional changes in this round, which was painfully close in the end.

Anastasi was slow to start with a low 160 then a 185 n games one and two, while both Caruana and young Caruana Scicluna opened with a pair of 200+ games a piece. Anastasi improved wih a 212 and 207 to finish but that was too little, too late as Caruana snatched the No. 1 spot on a score of 2,400, just a solitary pin ahead of Justin in the 2nd spot. Mauro made the finals in third place, incredibly tied with Justin on 2,399, but settling for the lower position due to a lower final game as per the tournament rules. Camilleri went through in fourth on 2,309 pins.

Finals: Mauro Anastasi faced Rankin Camilleri in the first final game, which saw Camilleri pull his best game of the event out of the hat to easily eliminate Mauro with a 188-259 victory. Rankin then met Justin Caruana Scicluna in the semi-final and certainly the match of the session, Camilleri just pipping the youngster 206-208 in a great game.

Rankin Camilleri’s rise through the classification was put to an end at the very last hurdle, the final against top qualifier Matthew Caruana. It was here that the latter also played his game of the tournament, winning the match, and the Championship with a 258-193 score line.

Final Junior Placings : 1st-Justin Caruana Scicluna, 2nd-Matthew Cossai, 3rd-Matthew Mangion

Female Division

Two in a row for Lorraine Casha

Lorraine Casha’s steadily improving performance and ever increasing experience at higher levels of competition in the national, and also international arena, have placed her in a class of her own on the Intermediate scene in Malta.

She was quick to lead the 14-strong field of female bowlers in these Championships, her first day games only marred by a 153 in game five, but that was cancelled out by highs of 201, 207, 206 and 210 as the day progressed. This placed her in first place with 1,517 pins (189.6 ave), ahead of Tiziana Carannante on 1392 (174.0 ave) in second, the latter’s elder sister Bernadette bringing up the rear in third with 1,347 pins (168.3). Fourth after eight was Faye Formosa with an interim total of 1,321 (165.1).

Casha was off to a flying start on day two, hammering home an 826 total in the first four games, including a 213, 215 and peaking with a 233. her pace was more relaxed in the next four, but she easily retained her prime position, finishing round one’s sixteen games on 3,057 pins, 191 ave.

Tiziana Carannante stayed second on 2,856 (178.5) while Faye Formosa advanced to third on 2,767 (172.9), and Valentina Bezzina went through in fourth place with 2,739 (171.1).

Bernadette Carannante, Annemarie Bonello and Stephanie Said went through in the next three positions, and Luisa Buttigieg claimed eighth place, along with the girls’ Junior tile for 2005, as the highest placed girl in that division.

Loraine Casha shot a 238, 176, 158, 236 set in round two and was a cert for the top qualifying spot. Tiziana also retained her placing in second, as did Faye in third. The only change in the top four was a leapfrog of Valentina by Bernadette, and so the stage was set for the female final.

Bernadette Carannante won the first match of the stepladder, overcoming Faye Formosa in their 151-171 game. She had no such luck in the semi-final against sister Tiziana however, the latter going through to the final with a fine 219-168 victory.

Lorraine Casha awaited in the ultimate encounter, and was soon holding a clear advantage The game ended 203-172 to give Lorraine her second consecutive national Intermediate title.

Final Junior Placings: 1st-Luisa Buttigieg, 2nd-Cynthia Duca, 3rd-Claire Bugeja