Week fourteen in the Middlesea Valletta Life National League has been completed at the Eden SuperBowl, where Aercomms have opened up a clear lead over challengers Fina First thanks to their massive win over mid-table Ramis. Fina could only manage a draw from their scrappy match with HSBC, who are now third in this their debut season in the top flight. Right Deal took an easy eight points from Vintage to go fourth, while there were 6–2 wins for La Spigola over Sagio Investments, and Royal Shock against Faces. Sammy’s Embroideries emerged as 5 – 3 winners from their survival clash with Redwell Heating.

Aercomms were previously tied on points with Fina First at the top of the Div I standings, but managed to open up a four point lead this week thanks to their 0 – 8 pummelling of unlucky Ramis. Aercomms were in formidable form from the opening game which they easily won 683 – 816, before going on to shoot their biggest of the night with a 714 – 919 win in game two to make it 0 – 4. Ramis could only have held weak hopes for a two point share as game three commenced, but the Aercomms onslaught continued as the defending champions won it 707 – 788, finishing their great 2523 series, a whole 419 pins better than the losing team. Ray Falzon Reale (Aercomms), 684, Bowler of the Week. Roy Swift (Ramis), 545.

Right Deal scooped the only other 100% victory of the evening, relegation threatened Vintage being on the receiving end of the beating. Game one ended 737 – 697 to give Right Deal the early points, and they doubled their lead with an 821 – 680 winner in game two, giving themselves a 181 pin advantage on the series. Game three finished 726 – 656 to complete the rout, and help Right Deal up into fourth place. Franco Ricci (Right Deal), 584. Lawrence Bonnici (Vintage), 510.

Fina First seemed out of sorts in their confrontation with HSBC, only managing a 4-4 draw to allow their opponents to move up into third place, and leaders Aercomms to go four points clear at the top of the table. Both sides showed some inconsistency, with HSBC taking game one with 783 pins to Fina’s low 712, and the latter then responding with a high 902 against a poor 699 from HSBC to draw level. Fina First had that high second game to thank for their equal share of the match points, as they lost the final game 775 – 734, but still picked up the series points with their 91 pin advantage. Helenio Grech (HSBC), 589. Brian Farrugia (Fina First), 674.

La Spigola have jumped up to seventh place with a 2 – 6 victory over Sagio Investments who are now eighth. La Spigola showed the greater consistency over the three games, winning the first of the series 717 – 801 before Sagio made it 2 – 2 with an 839 – 792 equaliser in game two. La Spigola picked up game three with a 728 – 794 win, and won the series by 103 pins (2284 – 2387). Ryan Grech (La Spigola), 580. Mark Bugeja (Sagio Investments), 607.

Royal Shock also claimed six points in their week 14 encounter with Faces, who remain rooted to the foot of the table. Royal Shock powered over Faces in the first and second games, winning them 726 – 819 and 671 – 859 respectively, but then suffered a shock defeat in game three, rolling a strangely low 703 to Faces’ 762 which earned them their two point share. Joe Cassar (Royal Shock), 664. Michael Bharwani (Faces), 535.

Redwell Heating finished on the lower end of a 5 – 3 score line against Sammy’s Embroideries, both sides currently flirting with relegation. Redwell opened the scoring by winning game one 711 – 732, and then game two saw the two teams tie on 730 a-piece to make it 1 – 3. Sammy’s improved in game three with a good 776 effort against a low 684 from the waning Redwell Heating side, and bagged the series points by 71 pins (2217 – 2146) to claim the match. Sammy Borg (Sammy’s Embroideries), 595. Neil Sullivan (Redwell Heating), 559.

Standings – Middlesea Valletta Life National Division I, Week 14

Aercomms – 80, Fina First – 76, HSBC – 60, Right Deal – 59, Sagio Investments – 58, Ramis – 58, La Spigola – 52, Sammy’s Embroideries – 52, Royal Shock – 52, Redwell Heating – 49, Vintage – 46, Faces – 30

Bowlers of the Week

Ray Falzon Reale (684) Aercomms

Sue Abela (639) Fina First