Fina First are sitting eight points clear at the top of Division I, with as many points up for grabs in next week’s final ‘Position Round’. Aercomms will meet Fina in that fixture, and an 8-0 victory would actually hand them the title in incredible circumstances, due to their better pinfall tally for the season to date. The odds were stacked against Aercomms in week eighteen due to a 0-8 win for their arch rivals over third placed PharmaVet, while the challengers dropped two in their majority victory over Ramis. Another interesting battle has developed for third place where there are still five teams still mathematically able to steal it, should the results run in their favour.

Fina First beat PharmaVet 0-8 in the last regular Div I fixture, going eight points clear with only the position round to be played. It was not a particularly impressive match, PharmaVet offering little resistance as they lost the opening game 708-761. Fina were four points ahead thanks to a 671-758 win in the second, and completed the rout by taking game three 719-734. They only need a single point from their position round clash with Aercomms to retain the league title. Sue Abela (Fina First), 582, Bowler of the Week. Steve Cassar (PharmaVet), 547.

Aercomms helped Fina in their efforts by dropping two points against Ramis, making their position round task a rather daunting one. They seemed to be well on course for a 100 per cent victory as they opened with a great 776-846 winner, and then made it 0-4 with an impressive 760-858 game two win. Then came game a true thriller of a final game which saw Ramis just clinch it by a mere nine pins, 805-796 the game score to hand them their quarter share of the points. Ray Falzon Reale (Aercomms), 693, Bowler of the Week. Benny Hili (Ramis), 591.

It’s all happening in the struggle for third place, made even more unpredictable this week by Union Capital Group’s 0-8 battering at the hands of Royal Shock who are now fourth, just two points down on PharmaVet. Union Capital seemed out of sorts throughout as they suffered a heavy 700-772 opening defeat, and were in yet more trouble after game two ended 724-798 to the Shockers. Union Capital were shocked into submission as game three commenced, rolling a low 571 to their opponents’ 780 final effort. David Fenech (Royal Shock), 564. Clive Saliba (Union Capital), 577.

Redwell Heating are another team still in the reckoning for third place, after beating HSBC 6-2 in week nineteen. It was a see-saw of an affair with Redwell taking the early points with a 741-659 opener, and then HSBC levelling it with their 655-684 win in game two. Redwell netted game three 743-720 to take the series points by 76 pins (2139-2063). Joanna Attard (Redwell Heating), 541. Ernest Agius (HSBC), 529.

Sammy’s Embroideries and FireBalls were simply going through the motions in their fixture, both having their relegation confirmed in earlier weeks. FireBalls took the first two games 735-729 and 757-713 respectively, before Sammy’s bounced back with a 697-755 win in the third, which netted them the series points by just 8 pins (2189-2197). Anthony Paris (Sammy’s), 558. Dean Micallef (FireBalls), 538.

Standings – Middlesea Valletta Life National Division I, Week 18

Fina First – 114, Aercomms – 106, PharmaVet – 72, Royal Shock – 70, Redwell Heating – 70, Union Capital Group – 68, Ramis – 68, HSBC – 64, Sammy’s Embroideries – 44, FireBalls – 44

Bowlers of the Week

Ray Falzon Reale (Aercomms) 693

Sue Abela (Fina First) 582