Team Malta selected for San Marino

The XV Mediterranean Challenge Cup will be held between April 16 and 22 in San Marino.

Justin Caruana Scicluna, Mark Spiteri, Sue Abela and Melissa Swift earned selection to Team Malta for the upcoming Med. Challenge Cup after the qualifying tournament was played recently at the Eden SuperBowl.

In the men’s competition, the decisive third day saw an excellent performance from Caruana Scicluna who never dipped below the 200-mark all day (low game 208).

A 259 opener, no fewer than four 234 games, topped off with a 217 and a 233 meant a stunning 1,853 for the day (231.6 average for eight), and a tournament-winning total of 5,203 (216.7).

Spiteri claimed the second qualifying spot. He got off to a shaky start in the third session with an opening game of 168. Improved efforts, including a 240, 236 and 236, helped Spiteri attain a 1,705 score over eight and a final tally of 5,075.

Neil Sullivan stayed on 4,828 while Rankin Camilleri improved to fourth on day three (4,807 total).

After a somewhat edgy start, Abela reserved her best for day three in the women’s event.

She rolled in a front four of 258-200-200-190 to set the tone for the rest of the session. A 1,531 for the day secured top spot for Abela (4,665, 194.3 ave), while Swift hung on to second place with 1,477 from games 17-24, and an overall total of 4,539 (189.1).

Third place went to Joanna Attard (4,348, 189.1) while 2011 qualifier Tiziana Carannante had to settle for fourth (4,258, 177.4).

After 14 editions of these regional championships, Malta leads the all-time medals list with 29 golds, ahead of Greece on 25 and Italy back in third on 12.

The XV MCC in San Marino will comprise four separate qualifying events – namely singles, doubles (males and females), mixed doubles and four-strong team.

The bowlers’ individual results in those four events will determine the qualifiers for the final masters event wherein the top eight bowlers from the male and female categories will compete in a knock-out final for highest championship honours.