If the first four weeks of the current Middlesea Valletta Life National league are any reflection on the season’s eventual conclusion, then a hefty runaway victory for the formidable Fina is certainly on the cards. After another 8-0 victory over NINE, they retain their 100% win record to date, and are already ten points ahead of nearest rivals Tabsat and Globalair Travel.
Tabsat leapfrogged Globalair by beating them 2-6 in this latest fixture, while Centro Casalinga strengthened their status in fourth place with a good 8-0 beating of Café Ole (ninth). In other matches Royal Shock took six points from bottom side Active, as did Ramis from Turu’s Knights.
Fina are sitting a little too comfortably at the top of Div I thanks to their four consecutive full point victories to date. This week it was NINE’s turn to suffer the wrath of the Champions, and there was little the recently re-promoted side could do to halt their opponents.
Game one was the closest of the series, going to Fina 771-738, and it was soon 4-0 to Fina after their 806-736 game two win. Fina continued to improve, easily winning game three 848-698 to complete the rout. Sue Abela (Fina), 654, Bowler of the Week. Mike Gatt (NINE), 522.
Tabsat managed to replace opponents Globalair Travel in the second spot by beating them 2-6 this week, although the two are level on 22 points. Tabsat opened the scoring with an initial 706-730 victory, before Globalair levelled the match with an 815-749 response in game two.
Globalair carried a slim 42 pin advantage into game three, but Tabsat were able to rise to the challenge, winning it 777-824 to steal the series points, and so the match by just five pins (2298-2303). Kenneth Arpa (Tabsat), 615. Neil Sullivan (Globalair Travel), 666, Bowler of the Week.
Centro Casalinga took all eight from their week four clash with Café Ole to consolidate their fourth position. They picked up a relatively easy 765-692 win in game one for the early lead, and also had little trouble making it 4-0 with a 771-688 victory in the second of the set.
Game three was closer as the Centro Casalinga seemed to take the points for granted, but only 23 pins separated them from Café Ole in the 733-710 result which completed the whitewash. Danial Swift (Centro Casalinga), 581. Stephanie Said (Café Ole), 516.
Royal Shock jump to fifth place after their 6-2 win over strugglers Active, who remain anchored to the foot of the classification. The eventual winners got off to a very poor start, losing game one to Active with a 605-688 score line, but then drew level after a 696-668 win in game two.
The match was up for grabs in the last of the series, which fell to Royal Shock 796-679, giving them the series by 62 pins (2097-2035). David Fenech (Royal Shock), 565.
Ramis were also 6-2 winners in week four, Turu’s Knights ending up the unlucky losers. Ramis were first to make the score board by taking game one 787-726, and it was 2-2 after game two which the Knights picked up with a 678-714 game score. Game three was a very close affair, but Ramis prevailed in the 795-789 result, taking the series by 31 pins (2260-2229). Lawrence Bonnici (Ramis), 617. Philippe Vancell (Turu’s Knights), 589.
Standings - Division I,
Week 4
Fina-32, Tabsat-22, Globalair Travel-22, Centro Casalinga-20, Royal Shock-14, Ramis-14, Turu’s Knights-12, NINE-12, Café Ole-10, Active-2
Standings - Division II, Week 4
The Clan-28, J Grima & Co-22, HSBC-19, Wasodol-18, Blitzkrieg-16, Gladiators-16, Supreme-16, Touch of Class-14, Vintage-7, A-Lajf-4
Bowlers of the Week
Sue Abela (Fina First) 654; Neil Sullivan (Globalair Travel) 670