The Middlesea Valletta Life National League rolls on at the Eden SuperBowl, week thirteen from nineteen in all proving to be a lucky fixture for Union Capital Group, who were the only top flight side to manage a full point victory, to the detriment of QF Ltd.

Leaders Fina First and chasers Aercomms both managed six-point wins against HSBC and Royal Shock respectively, while there were four-all draws for Redwell heating and Ramis, and NINE against PharmaVet.

Union Capital Group’s unique 100 per cent win helped them edge closer to the top two, moving them within eight points of Aercomms. They opened with a slick 713-825 win over fourth placed QF Ltd, and then made it 0-4 with another good win in game two (771-861). Game three was the closest of the set but was also clinched by Union Capital, 878-813 the score line to complete the whitewash.

Mark Bugeja was in fine form for the winning side, shooting a 666 series to claim the honour of ‘Bowler of the Week’. Tiziana Carannante (QF Ltd), 556.

Fina First maintained their nine point buffer at the top of the classification thanks to a 6-2 win over HSBC.

Fina opened the encounter with a 771-660 win in game one, which was to be their best effort of the evening. HSBC made it 2-2 by winning game two by just fourteen pins, 728-742, but then it was Fina again in a tight game three which fell 708-697 to the leaders. Brian Farrugia (Fina First), 615. Helenio Grech (HSBC), 592.

Aercomms failed to make ground on the top spot as they also dropped two points in their week thirteen clash with Royal Shock. It was the latter who managed to put themselves on the scoreboard first with a narrow 753-749 win in the first of the series, but then the defending champs bounced right back with a convincing 720-817 equaliser in the second.

The decider was not so easy, decided in Aercomms’ favour in the dying frames, a 741-758 win handing the major share of the points. Kenneth Arpa (Aercomms), 609. Joe Cassar (Royal Shock), 549.

The match between bottom side Redwell Heating and Ramis (7th) produced the first of two four-all draws this week. Redwell took game one by the narrowest possible of margins, clinching it by just one pin (728-727), and then took game two 820-766 to make it 4-0 with a 55 pins advantage as game three commenced.

That went to Ramis with a 716-804 game score, which put paid to Redwell’s hopes of victory, Ramis claiming the series points by 33 pins (2,264-2,297). Jackie Azzopardi (Redwell Heating), 539. John Balani (Ramis), 592.

Draw number two came from the match between NINE and PharmaVet, with team NINE battling against relegation in this their first ever season in Div I. PharmaVet were to be greatly thankful of their big 717-815 opening win, as NINE responded by winning game two 751-714, and also game three 729-705.

PharmaVet’s big opening game meant they claimed the series points by 37 pins to force the draw overall (2,197-2,234). Joe Smith (NINE), 527. Colin Attard (PharmaVet), 588.

Standings – Div. I, Week 13

Fina First-84, Aercomms-75, Union Capital Group-67, QF Ltd-52, PharmaVet-50, Royal Shock-49, Ramis-40, HSBC-40, NINE-32, Redwell Heating-31

Bowlers of the Week

Mark Bugeja (Union Capital Group) 666; Sue Abela (Fina First) 610