The new Middlesea Valletta Life National League has proceeded through week three at the Eden SuperBowl, where the only Division I team to take all eight points from their match was Aercomms, meaning they extend their league lead to six points.

Theirs was an easy encounter against early strugglers The Clan, and in other matches there were six point wins for Champions Fina First against Pharmavet, Ramis against Inlusion and also Turu’s Knights over Globalair Travel. The clash between Royal Shock and HSBC ended in a four-all stalemate.

Aercomms week three fixture seemed more like a relaxed team training session, as opponents The Clan produced precious little in their performance to worry the league leaders who romped to an easy 8-0 defeat. They walked game one with a 772-660 win, then doubled their lead with a 757-695 result in game two which put them 174 ahead on the set going into the final game. That fell to Aercomms with a big 832 game against an inadequate 654 effort from the opposing side. Kenneth Arpa (Aercomms), 621.

Defending Champions Fina First improved to second place thanks to their 6-2 beating of ninth placed Pharmavet, leaving them six points behind Aercomms. It was Pharmavet who were first on the score board with a close 770-787 opening win, before Fina came back to make it all square after two with a 786-771 equaliser meaning a mere two pins in Pharmavet’s favour separated the two teams as the decider commenced. Game three was a different matter, Fina First establishing their lead in the early frames to win it 808-710 and claim the match. Brian Farrugia (Fina First), 674, Bowler of the Week. Franco Ricci (Pharmavet), 573.

Turu’s Knights remain fourth after their 6-2 win over Globalair Travel who are currently sixth. Turu’s Knights took the opener by nineteen (750-731) for a 2-0 lead, and then made it 4-0 with a better 767-721 game two victory. Globalair came back strongly in the third, winning it 764-802 but were still 27 pins shy of forcing the draw (2281-2254). Philippe Vancell (Turu’s Knights), 574. Simon Burke (Globalair Travel), 585.

The third 6-2 win of the evening went to Ramis who move up two spots to seventh with the result. Inlusion (eighth) were the eventual losers, in spite of their strong initial win of 744-802 in game one. Ramis made drew level thanks to their 743-704 game two win, and then took game three 744-713, clinching the series points by just twelve pins (2231-2219). Roy Swift (Ramis), 553. Andre Grech (Inlusion), 586.

The eight points up for grabs were shared equally in the confrontation between third placed Royal Shock and HSBC (fifth), in which the former claimed a game one lead with a 771-737 win.

Game two was too close to call, going to HSBC 717-722 to tie the match, and they went on to win the third 761-778. Royal Shock’s earlier larger winning margin rewarded them with the series points and so the match draw (2249-2237). Vince Magri (Royal Shock), 623. Helenio Grech (HSBC), 547.

Bowlers of the Week:

Brian Farrugia (Fina First), 674; Sue Abela (Fina First), 548

Standings – Division I, Week 3

Aercomms-22, Fina First-16, Royal Shock-16, Turu’s Knights-16, HSBC-12, Globalair Travel-10, Ramis-10, Inlusion-10, Pharmavet-8, The Clan -0