Pharmavet upstage Union Capital Group
Identical 6-2 wins for title rivals Fina and Aercomms
Week 11 of the Middlesea Valletta Life National League has been completed at the Eden SuperBowl, where champions Aercomms continued to play 'follow-the-leader' with top team Fina First.
Both sides picked up 6-2 wins this week, while hopefuls Union Capital Group, in third place, suffered a 6-2 beating by PharmaVet. The remaining two matches also produced 6-2 results, as Ramis went down to Royal Shock, and QF Ltd overcame bottom-side Redwell Heating.
Leaders Fina First stayed seven points clear thanks to their win at the expense of team NINE. It was easy pickings for Fina in game one which they won easily 786-688, but then NINE bounced back with a closer 741-775 equalising win in game two. NINE failed to repeat their game-two performance in the final game, shooting a poor 652 against a match-winning 755 from the Fina foursome.
Aercomms too finished as 6-2 winners against relegation-threatened HSBC, to keep leaders Fina within sight.
HSBC gave the defending champions an early scare by narrowly taking game one 741-754, only to see that gift of an early lead blown to pieces with a massive 879-774 second game win from Aercomms to make it two-all.
A huge 265 individual effort from Kenneth Arpa was a telling factor in the game. Aercomms were over 800 again in game three (804-740), taking the series by 156 pins (2,424-2,268).
Union Capital Group are still holding on to third place, but are falling further away from the top two after losing out 6-2 at the hands of PharmaVet (sixth) this week.
PharmaVet opened with a four-bowler broadside to stun their opponents with an 843-643 opening win, and were quick to double their lead in a closer game two, which they clinched 803-782.
Game three was the tightest of the set, decided in the final frame 735-738 in favour of Union Capital to hand them their quarter share of the spoils.
Standings (week 11): Fina First 70; Aercomms 63; Union Capital Group 53; Royal Shock 47; QF Ltd 46; PharmaVet 40; Ramis 34; HSBC 32; NINE 26; Redwell Heating 25.
Bowlers of the week: Kenneth Arpa (Aercomms) 649; Sue Abela (Fina First) 653.