Week ten of the Middlesea Valletta Life National League at the Eden SuperBowl saw defending champions Fina First finally put some daylight between themselves and challengers Aercomms.

Fina claimed all eight in their clash with Inlusion, while Aercomms were beaten 6-2 by Ramis in a match which saw a thrilling climax. In other matches Globabalair Travel closed further in on second place with another win against PharmaVet, Turu’s Knights went down 6-2 to Royal Shock, while The Clan vs HSBC ended in a four-all tie.

Fina First made light work of taking all of the points from Inlusion (eighth), opening up an eight point advantage over Aercomms with the win. Fina started high, winning the opening game of the series 852-721, and then compounded their lead with a closer 818-770 win in the second.

They easily took game three 834-738 to make it 8-0 to Fina, leaving the losing side hovering just over the relegation zone. Sue Abela (Fina First), 678, Bowler of the Week. Tony Paris (Inlusion), 592.

Aercomms gave Fina First a helping hand by losing 6-2 against Ramis this week, the latter now in fourth place. It was Aercomms who had the more positive start as they took game one by 80 pins (766-846), but it was soon 2-2 after Ramis came back to take game two 767-693.

The match was anyone’s for the taking as the deciding game rolled off, and it was to be the closest of the series, finally going to Ramis with an 834-815 score line, thus handing Ramis the match points thanks to their slim 13 pin advantage on the series (2267-2254). Charles Farrugia (Ramis), 627. Kenneth Arpa (Aercomms), 672, Bowler of the Week.

Gobalair Travel edged yet closer to the top two thanks to Aercomms’ misfortune, and their own 6-2 victory over PharmaVet, their fourth win in succession. Globalair were first on the scoreboard with a straight 800 against PharmaVet’s 712 in game one, but the latter bounced back to make it two-all thanks to a 731-823 win, going just four pins ahead of their opponents after two.

The match was to play for in game three which again was the closest of the set, and Globalair eventually took it 834-815 to win the series by 94 pins (2365-2371). Simon Burke (Globalair Travel), 623. Steve Cassar (PharmaVet), 598.

Royal Shock got the better of Turu’s Knights in a 6-2 win, leaving the latter stuck in the second relegation slot in the standings. Game one ended 746-705 to Royal Shock for a two point lead, but they soon doubled that advantage with a 796-690 game two victory.

In spite of two game losses, Turu’s Knights weren’t taking it lying down, and rallied to take game three 727-816 for their quarter share of the points, but missing out on the draw by 58 series pins (2269-2211). Joe Cassar (Royal Shock), 572. Tiziana Carannante (Turu’s Knights), also 572.

Week ten’s 4-4 draw with HSBC (seventh) was The Clan’s best match result to date in this their nightmare introduction to Division I. They took the opener 766-727 to put themselves ahead, but it was all square after the second of the set which fell 628-751 to HSBC.

The Clan then put in a 682 final effort, twenty pins better than a poor 662 from HSBC, who held onto the series points with a 64 pins advantage to force the draw (2076-2140). Helenio Grech (HSBC), 559. Nicky Mangion (The Clan), 522.

Bowlers of the Week

Kenneth Arpa (Aercomms), 672; Sue Abela (Fina First), 678

Standings - Div. I, Week 10

Fina First-60, Aercomms-52, Globalair Travel-46, Ramis-44, Royal Shock-42, PharmaVet-40, HSBC-38, Inlusion-38, Turu’s Knights-30, The Clan-10

Standings - Div. II, Week 10

Active-58, NINE-58, Supreme-52, Wasodol-50, J Grima & Co Ltd-40, Blitzkrieg-33, Highlanders-32, Gladiators-28, Atlas Insurance-27, Vintage - 22