Week nine marked the end of the first round of the current Middlesea Valletta Life National League at the Eden SuperBowl, where champions Fina First are still top of Division I after a 6-2 win against PharmaVet, although their lead was narrowed to just four points by challengers Aercomms, due to the latter’s 8-0 hammering of Ramis.
Redwell Heating took six points from HSBC to move away from the drop-zone, and there was a similar result in favour of FireBalls against Sammy’s Embroideries.
The match between Royal Shock and third placed Union Capital Group ended in a 4-all draw.
Aercomms stole the show in week nine by bowling the highest team series of the season to date (2,535) as they tore into a stunned Ramis foursome.
Ramis gave a fair performance on the day but were totally outclassed by the formidable Aercomms outfit, who took game one 875-760, and then made it 4-0 with an 823-773 win in game two. With a 165 pin backlog going into game three, Ramis could only hope for a two point share by winning game three, but their hopes were soon dashed by an 837-763 finale from Aercomms. Kenneth Arpa (Aercomms), 647. Leli Baldacchino (Ramis), 619.
Fina First began their match against PharmaVet with a 758-741 win, and then doubled up with a high 864 in game two, against their opponents’ 792 effort.
They were confident of a 100 per cent victory as game three commenced, but PharmaVet had other plans, throwing a spoke into their wheels with a 760-783 win, 6-2 the final result, meaning Aercomms would close the gap on Fina First to just four points. Mark Muscat (Fina First), 663, Bowler of the Week. Steve Cassar (PharmaVet), 634.
Redwell Heating jump two spots to sixth on the strength of their 2-6 win against HSBC this week. Neither side impressed during the three game set, Redwell’s opening 741 against HSBC’s 658 proving to be the highest game of the encounter. HSBC came back with a 722-710 equaliser in the second, but Redwell Heating clinched the match thanks to their 665-706 game three win. Joanna Attard (Redwell Heating), 516. Bertram Vella (HSBC), 519.
In a very similar match, FireBalls emerged 2-6 winners from their bottom-of-the-table clash with Sammy’s Embroideries, but the win wasn’t enough to improve on their ninth place.
They drew first blood by taking game one 671-731, but it was soon all square as Sammy’s replied with a 781-696 win in game two. Fireballs then sailed to a 663-772 win in game three to take the series by 84 pins (2,115-2,199). Peter Mallia (FireBalls-Sub), 569. Emanuel Saliba (Sammy’s Embroideries), 527.
Royal Shock were robbed of victory by Union Capital Group, who managed to force a 4-all draw.
Royal Shock took the early lead with a 728-692 win in the first of the set, but then Union Capital won game two convincingly, the 735-796 result proving crucial to the sharing of the points. Royal Shock came back to take the third 789-778, but Union Capital just managed to clinch the series points by 11 pins (2,252-2,263). Neil Sullivan (Union Capital Group), 611. Joe Cassar (Royal Shock), 555.
Standings - Division I, Week 9
Fina First 56
Aercomms 52
Union Capital Group 40
Ramis 38
Royal Shock 34
Redwell Heating 34
HSBC 32
PharmaVet 30
FireBalls 26
Sammy’s Emb. 16
Bowlers of the Week
Mark Muscat (Fina First) 663
Sue Abela (Fina First) 570