Week eleven of the Middlesea Valletta Life National league being played at the Eden SuperBowl, saw HSBC claim a good majority win against Union Capital Group, halting the latter's recent attack on the top two positions.
Leaders Fina First and chasers Aercomms took similar six-point victories against FireBalls and Sammy’s Embroideries respectively, and there was also a 2 - 6 win for Redwell Heating over Royal Shock. The clash between PharmaVet and Ramis saw the two sides draw to share the eight points up for grabs.
HSBC are still under the threat of relegation from Division I, but registered a very useful 2 - 6 win against Union Capital Group this week. HSBC pulled the biggest game of the night out of the hat in game one with a crushing 795 - 885 winner, but then dropped to a low 722 in game two, allowing Union Capital do draw level with their 765 effort.
HSBC had the pinfall edge going into the close third and deciding game, and they won it by seventeen pins (788 - 805) to take the match and series by 64 pins (2348 - 2412). Ernest Agius (HSBC), 595. Neil Sullivan (Union Capital Group), 585.
Champions Fina First retain their slim Division I lead after beating FireBalls 2 - 6 this week. Games one and two saw Fina take their opponents apart with big successive wins of 748 - 836 and then 733 - 793 to give them a 148 safety net as the teams headed for game three. That cushion served them well as FireBalls came back with a 750 - 727 winner to claim their two point share. Youth protégé Justin Caruana Scicluna gave a fantastic performance for the winners, rolling games of 255 - 237 - 236 for a brilliant 728 series, easily securing the honour of Male Bowler of the Week and also claiming the highest series for the season to date. Ramon Casha (FireBalls), 541.
It was also a 2 - 6 victory for second placed Aercomms who lie just two points adrift of the top spot, Sammy's Embroideries the losing side. Like Fina First, Aercomms had an easy time of it over the first two games, taking the opener 677 - 743, and then the second 674 - 784. Then Sammy’s surprised their opponents with a good 820 - 735 win in game three to claim their two points. Aercomms took the series by 91 pins (2171 - 2262). Ray Falzon Reale (Aercomms), 594. Anthony Paris (Sammy’s), 534.
The fourth and final 2 - 6 score line of week eleven saw Redwell Heating (sixth) get the better of fifth placed Royal Shock. The match never impressed from the start, as game one fell to Redwell with a low 644 - 656 score line, before Royal Shock made it 2-all by clinching game two 710 - 703. Redwell improved to win game three easily, 679 - 798 and claim the series points (2033 - 2157). Jackie Azzopardi (Redwell Heating), 570, Bowler of the Week.
An uneventful 4 - 4 tie was the result of the week’s final encounter between PharmaVet and Ramis. It was PharmaVet who first made the scoreboard, taking the first of the set 752 - 676, but Ramis responded with a 666 - 778 win in game two to make it all-square. Pharmavet then won the closer third game 745 - 710, but lost the series by just one, solitary pin (2163 - 2164) thus handing the draw to their opponents. Franco Ricci (PharmaVet), 550. John Balani (Ramis), 554.
Standings -
Fina First - 68, Aercomms - 66, Union Capital Group - 50, Ramis - 44, Royal Shock - 42, Redwell Heating - 42, PharmaVet - 40, HSBC - 38, FireBalls - 30, Sammy's Embroideries - 20
Bowlers of the Week
Justin Caruana Scicluna (Fina First) - 728
Jackie Azzopardi (Redwell Heating)) - 570
SuperBowl Doubles - Perfect Game for Colin Attard
Regular league player Colin Attard realized every Tenpin Bowler’s dream this week, that of rolling a ‘perfect’ 300 game. Attard’s awesome feat game in game two of his side’s week 23 match against Camilleri Wines, as he rolled twelve perfect ‘pocket’ strikes in a row, for the much coveted 300 total.
Colin joins a growing list of local bowlers to claim sanctioned 300 games, namely Dennis Mercieca, Ray Falzon Reale, Brian Farrugia, Leli Baldacchino and Frank Vella (UK resident).