Big victory propels Fina First to the top

Division One big guns Fina First easily claimed all eight points in week six of the current Honda National Leagues being played at the Eden SuperBowl, St Julian's.

Their thrashing of Mizzi Organisation propelled Fina First to the top of the standings, equal on 34 points with the previous week's leaders Maltacom KSSK, who were also winners against DAB Beer (6-2).

Aercomms strengthened their position in third after their full-point victory over youth squad team Palatino, while struggling Playzone turned on the style to roll the team series of the week (2449) in their 6-2 success against Ramis.

Fina First are back in very familiar territory - top spot in Division One - after their demolition of Mizzi Organisation.

The defending champions served early notice of their intent to gain an emphatic success in the three-game series, taking game one with a one-sided scoreline of 660-771.

Dennis Mercieca opened with a 232 game, and went on to equal it in the second in which the stunned Mizzi Organisation side went down by 202 pins (618-820).

Mizzi Organisation's game picked up in the third, but their opponents were on a roll, winning 780-827 to complete the rout. Mercieca finished on a 659 total, and Jenny Swift shot a 542 for Mizzi Organisation (seventh).

Last week's leaders Maltacom KSSK slipped to second place (equal on 34 points with Fina First, lower pinfall) after dropping two crucial points against DAB Beer.

Maltacom KSSK took a considerable early advantage by winning game one 688-770, and going on to win the second, 694-752 to take a 140-pin lead into the third.

Their early superiority caused them to drop their guard however, allowing DAB (10th) to get into the points by taking the final game 718-704 and snatch the all-important two points from Maltacom KSSK's grasp.

David Debono played a 555 series for Maltacom KSSK, while Mark Muscat took a 587 for the losers.

Aercomms were the second of two teams to win all eight points this week at the expense of Palatino.

After game one finished 752-783 in Aercomms' favour, the second turned out to be a real nail biter. It was anybody's game all the way up to the very last frame, with unlucky Palatino missing out on drawing level by just two pins (761-763).

The youngsters' confidence seemed to have been rocked, as they stumbled through the final game to lose 638-758, Aercomms better by 153 pins on the series.

Paul Baldacchino took a sound 587 series for third-placed Aercomms, and Carl Borg managed a 548 for Palatino who are now ninth.

Globalair Travel took charge of their clash with Fina Excel, taking the first with 755 against Excel's 736, and then improving their lead in the second which they won by 122 pins (841-729) with a helping hand from Alistair Muscat who rolled a 245 game.

Fina Excel came back strongly in the last game which they notched 746-801, but this was not enough to force the draw as they finished the series 76 pins down on Globalair, 6-2 the final score.

Muscat completed a 653 series for the victors who now go fourth, while Fina Excel's Silvio Anastasi found the form he has missed of late, bowling a 613 series in spite of a low 157 in game one (157-211-245). Fina Excel dropped to sixth place with this defeat.

DUWPA climbed from seventh to fifth place after winning 6-2 against bottom team Vodka Cruiser.

DUWPA dropped the two points in a close opening game which went 700-717 to their opponents, but bounced back with a huge 852 in game two against a 774 from Vodka Cruiser.

It was tight again in game three, but this time it was DUWPA's turn to clinch the points, 717-711 the game score. Sean Attard's 602 made him high man once again for DUWPA, and Edward Caruana registered a 595 for the losers.

Highest team series

The highest team series of the week went to Playzone, who bowled a 2449 total in their 6-2 win against Ramis. Both teams started strongly as the Playzone ladies took game one 860-810, which was followed by a tit-for-tat win for Ramis in game two (822-781). The latter took a mere nine-pin advantage into the third, but it soon became clear that Playzone were in no mood for defeat.

They shot another 800+ game (808) against Ramis' 739 to take the game and the series by 78 pins.

The match produced the two bowlers of the week, with national champion Doris Camilleri notching up a 629 for the winners, and Ramis' Charles Farrugia shooting 660.

Standings (week six) - Fina First 34; Maltacom KSSK 34; Aercomms 32; Globalair Travel 28; DUWPA 27; Fina Excel 26; Mizzi Organisation 24; Ramis 20; Palatino 20; DAB Beer 19; Playzone 16; Vodka Cruiser 8.

Bowlers of the week - Charles Farrugia (660) Ramis; Doris Camilleri (629) Playzone.