There are just three weeks remaining in the Middlesea Valletta Life National League at the Eden SuperBowl, where week sixteen saw defending champions Aercomms get the better of leaders Fina First in a 2-6 result, putting them within seven points of the top spot. There were useful full point victories for HSBC and Ramis against Redwell Heating and team NINE at the other end of the classification, while matches Union Capital Group vs Royal Shock and PharmaVet vs QF Ltd. both ended 6-2.

The Fina-Aercomms clashes are always tense affairs, particularly for last season’s champions Aercomms this time around who came to the match eleven points down on league leaders Fina First. Fina came out swinging, taking the opening game the high scoring opening game 848-793, but it was then Aercomms’ turn in an excellent game two the 827-852 score line falling in their favour to make the match score 2-2.

The match was anybody’s as game three rolled off, and it was to be Aercomms’ night thanks to their 747-786 game win, handing them the series points by just nine pins (2,422-2,431). Dennis Mercieca (Aercomms), 662, Bowler of the Week. Mark Spiteri (Fina First), 660.

Seventh placed HSBC’s survival hopes were given a boost thanks to an 8-0 drubbing of bottom side Redwell Heating in week sixteen. Redwell were out of their league, never breaching the 700 mark during the series, allowing HSBC to walk of with all of the points with game wins of 704-667, 750-662 and 753-697. Helenio Grech (HSBC), 552, Shawn Bugeja (Redwell Heating), 529.

There were also eight points for Ramis (8th) who are also striving to avoid the drop to Division II, with unlucky NINE finishing on the losing end of the result. Ramis were never troubled over the three game series, and were soon 70 pins ahead after winning the opener 768-698. They made it 4-0 with a 738-685 game two win, and completed the whitewash with a 760-718 win in game three. Lawrence Bonnici (Ramis), 545. Alan Borg (NINE), 543.

Union Capital are still hanging in there in third place, after beating fourth placed Royal Shock 6-2. Royal Shock were first on the score board with a good 745-800 win in game one, but Union Capital soon drew level thanks to their close 817-798 game two win. Union Capital snatched back the advantage in the all important third game, winning it 793-728 for the match (2,355-2,326). Neil Sullivan (Union Capital), 623. Joe Cassar (Royal Shock), 609.

Fifth placed Pharmavet also picked up a 6-2 win against sixth placed QF Ltd. QF started well with a 671-738 game one victory, but Pharmavet squared the match with a 733-696 equaliser in the second of the set. They walked off with the lion’s share of the points thanks to a 781-728 win in game three, putting them 34 pins ahead on the series (2,185-2,151). Steve Cassar (Pharmavet), 591. Ryan Grech (QF Ltd), 618.

Bowlers of the Week

Dennis Mercieca (Aercomms) 662; Sue Abela (Fina First) 585

Div I Standings, Week 16

Fina First-94, Aercomms-87, Union Capital Group-83, Royal Shock-63, Pharmavet-62, QF Ltd-58, HSBC-56, Ramis-54, NINE-42, Redwell Heating-41