Week eight of the Middlesea Valletta Life National league at the SuperBowl saw another giant-killing feat, as a young and plucky QF Ltd outfit saw of defending champions Aercomms with a 6-2 victory.
This means Aercomms are now ten points down on Div I leaders Fina First, who could only come up with a draw against Ramis this week. There were more six-point victories for Pharmavet against Royal Shock and also HSBC over NINE, while the match between Union Capital Group and Redwell heating provided the second drawn match of the night.
QF Ltd move up one spot to fifth thanks to their unexpected win over defending champions Aercomms, who were left reeling after losing out 783-714 in game one. QF Ltd dropped to a low 671 game in the second of the set, but even that was enough to double their lead as the hapless Aercomms bowlers could only register a losing 651 score.
Aercomms finally showed some evidence of their league winning form in game three, which they bagged with a 692-767 win, falling short of the series points and the draw by just nine pins (2,146-2,137). Peter Mallia (QF Ltd), 526. Paul Baldacchino (Aercomms), 556.
Pharmavet remain in fourth place after overcoming sixth placed Royal Shock in a 2-6 result. Pharmavet were first on the scoreboard thanks to a 722-775 opening win, and went on to make it 0-4 with by also clinching game two 712-749.
Buoyed by their lead after two games, Pharmavet then let their guard down to allow Royal Shock to snatch a two point share with a 746-695 game three win, but Pharmavet held onto the match with a 29 pin overall advantage (2,180-2,219). Ramon Stafrace (Pharmavet), 567. David Fenech (Royal Shock), 525.
HSBC improved by another position with their 2-6 win against NINE, the latter falling to the foot of the standings with the defeat. The first of the series was a stroll in the park for HSBC, the game score falling heavily in their favour (653-802), but then NINE managed to make it 2-2 by taking a much closer second game with a 720-705 score line. HSBC’s see-saw fortunes continued, handing them game three by 108 pins (726-834) to make sure of the lion’s share of the points. Leli Baldacchino (HSBC), 616, Bowler of the Week. Nathan Brimmer (NINE), 526.
Leaders Fina First could only halve the points with eighth placed Ramis in week eight, but stretched their lead to ten points thanks to Aercomms’ misfortunes. Fina took the first two games with respective scores of 786-754 and 737-701, but then saw their opponents come roaring back with a big 759-866 win in game three. That was enough for Ramis to net the series points and force the draw with their 39 pin advantage on the series (2,282-2,321). Sue Abela (Fina First), 605, Bowler of the Week. Benny Hili (Ramis), 579.
The confrontation between Union Capital Group (third) and Redwell Heating (ninth) also ended 4-4. Union Capital drew first blood by taking game one 739-698, but it was all square after game two which was claimed by Redwell Heating with a 713-759 result. The match was there for the taking in game three, which only just went to Union Capital 789-787, meaning that their opponents clinched the series points by a mere three pins (2,241-2,244) for their equal share of the points. Mark Muscat (Union Capital), 553. Joanna Attard (Redwell Heating), 598.
Standings - Div. I, Week 8
Fina First-52, Aercomms-42, Union Capital Group-42, Pharmavet-34, QF Ltd-30, Royal Shock-29, HSBC-28, Ramis-26, Redwell Heating-19, NINE-18
Bowlers of the Week
Leli Baldacchino (HSBC) 616; Sue Abela (Fina First) 605