Week seven of the Middlesea Valletta Life National League at the Eden SuperBowl, saw Aercomms edge within four points of leaders Fina First, thanks to their beating the latter six points to two in the first of at least two such fixtures in the current season. Aercomms are in second, ahead on pinfall of Union Capital Group who also took six this week against struggling FireBalls.
Redwell Heating were the only top flight side to take all eight points, to the detriment of Sammy’s Embroideries, while there were other majority wins for Royal shock over PharmaVet, and HSBC Against Ramis.
Aercomms may still be in second place, four points down on Fina First, but they’re still ‘one up’ on the defending Champions after beating them 6 - 2 in their first clash of the season. Aercomms put together a great series on the night, winning game one 824 - 727, before Fina First levelled things with a 785 - 822 equaliser in game two. Aercomms came straight back with a decisive 876 - 754 deciding win to claim the series points by 182 pins (2485 - team series of the week, against 2303). Aercomms’ Dennis Mercieca strung together a great 204-223-258 set (685) to take the Bowler of the Week hounours, While Fina’s best came from Justin Caruana Scicluna (606).
Redwell Heating registered the only 8-point victory of the week, unlucky Sammy’s Embroideries finding themselves on the receiving end of the thrashing. Not a lot separated the two sides but Redwell saw the better run of the play, taking the opener 721 - 711 and then game two 725 - 682 to make it 4 - 0. They went on to complete the whitewash with a 775 - 739 win in the last of the set. Amanda Cini (Redwell Heating), 556. Tony Paris (Sammy's Embroideries), 518.
Union Capital Group are tied on points with Aercomms, taking six against FireBalls to keep up. FireBalls got off to a positive start by narrowly winning the opener 704 - 711, but it was soon all square as Union Capital took game two 753 - 718. Neither side impressed during the match, but it was Union Capital who walked off with the lion's share of the spoils thanks to their 742 - 688 third game victory. Neil Sullivan (Union Capital Group), 600. Keith Bugeja (FireBalls), 520.
It was 6 - 2 again in the clash between HSBC and Ramis, HSBC coming out of the encounter as winners. They drew first blood with a 710 - 698 game one win, and then doubled their lead with an 809 - 738 result in game two. They dropped to a low 702 in game three, to allow Ramis a two point share for their modest 716 effort. Helenio Grech (HSBC), 543. Leli Baldacchino (Ramis), 601.
The final match of week six resulted in a 2 - 6 win for Royal Shock against PharmaVet, the two sides currently flirting with relegation danger. Royal Shock stamped their authority on the match with their 753 - 832 game one win, followed by a 776 - 797 result in the second. PharmaVet had it all to do in game three to take something from the match, and very nearly turned the result into a draw, wining the game 774 - 676, but missing out on the series points by just two pins (2303 - 2305). Pierre Yves Galea (Royal Shock), 543. Franco Ricci (PharmaVet), 576.
Standings -
Fina First - 42, Aercomms - 38, Union Capital Group - 38, Ramis - 32, HSBC - 30, Redwell Heating - 26, Royal Shock - 24, Pharmavet - 20, FireBalls - 18, Sammy's Embroideries - 12
Bowlers of the Week
Dennis Mercieca (Aercomms), 685
Sue Abela (Fina First), 599