Week three of the Middlesea Valletta Life National League at the SuperBowl saw the first major upset of the season, with newly crowned Champions and week two leaders Aercomms suffering a 0-8 trouncing at the hands of Redwell Heating, who knocked their opponents back to fourth place with the result.
Union Capital Group took advantage to open up a two point lead over Fina First at the top of Div I, yet to drop a point in this new season after beating Ramis 0-8 this week. Fina First also took all eight against Royal Shock and elsewhere there were full points for PharmaVet over HSBC and QF Ltd won 6-2 against NINE.
To be fair, all three of Aercomms’ games against Redwell Heating were close, but it was only rock steady Ray Falzon Reale who gave anything like a Champion’s performance for his side on the night, against what can be considered as a much lesser foe. Game one saw Aercomms suffer their first loss of the season as Redwell Heating registered a 726-748 win.
Aercomms had double-trouble after a painfully close second game also fell to their less formidable opponents 735-739, and then the beating was completed by a 713-735 final game much to the delight of the Redwell outfit. Amanda Cini (Redwell Heating), 557. Ray Falzon Reale (Aercomms), 646, Bowler of the Week.
Union Capital took full advantage of Aercomms’ misfortune and frustration by clocking up their third successive full pointer, this time against Ramis who are finding the going a little heavy in the new season.
New addition Mark Muscat (ex-Fina First) is already proving his worth, Union Capital’s high-man this week with a 566 series, as his side rolled on to their 0-8 victory with game scores of 727-752, 757-780 and 683-694 respectively, keeping them on top with a 100% record to date. Lawrence Bonnici (Ramis), 559.
Fina First are never far from the fray, but will be rueing the two points the dropped against NINE in week two, those two points being the difference between their second place and the top spot. They made light work of an 8-0 hammering of Royal Shock this week, game one being the closest of the set ending 774-758 to Fina.
They went on to take game two with greater ease, 791-681, before winding up with an 802-711 win in game three. Sue Abela (Fina First), 601, Bowler of the Week. David Fenech (Royal Shock), 555.
PharmaVet took the last of four full point victories in week three, unlucky opponents HSBC swapping places with the winners at the foot of the table with the heavy defeat. PharmaVet opened with a 733-706 win, and then doubled their lead by taking game two 689-625 before completing the rout with their final 698-687 win. Danial Swift (PharmaVet), 555. Marco Porsella Flores (HSBC), 504.
QF Ltd continued their positive start to the new season with their third 6-2 victory in a row to move into third place. This week’s opposing side were Div I newbies NINE, who actually made it onto the score board first with a 723-736 opening winner.
QF were level after game two which they clinched 746-675, so the whole match would be hinged on the third and final game of the night. QF Ltd. rose to the occasion to win it 783-725 and so claim the lion's share of the points. Philippe Vancell (QF Ltd), 626. Alan Borg (NINE), 557.
Standings – Div. I, Week 3
Union Capital Group-24, Fina First-22, QF Ltd-18, Aercomms-16, Redwwell Heating-13, Royal Shock-9, PharmaVet-8, Ramis-4, HSBC-2
Bowlers of the Week: Ray Falzon Reale (Aercomms) 646; Sue Abela (Fina First) 601