Maltacom KSSK took all eight points in their clash with fellow strugglers Bomba Giants in Week 18 of the Honda National League at the Eden SuperBowl. The win lifts Maltacom above the drop zone with just five matches of the competition remaining.
Fina First consolidated their lead as chasers Aercomms dropped two points in a 6-2 win. Leaders Fina beat Striking Distance 8-0. The latter are sharing third place with Fina Excel on the 90-point mark.
Fina First's consistent play gave them the edge over Striking Distance who remain hopeful of a share in the silverware this season. There was no big difference between the two teams with Fina First claiming the spoils 716-747, 698-729 and 735-744 giving them a 71-pin advantage on the series.
Dennis Mercieca gave the best showing for the defending champions with a 605. Kenneth Arpa rolled a good 632 for Striking Distance.
The only other 8-0 victory of the night was that of Maltacom. They were the better side as Giants only managed to top the 700-mark in game three. The win takes Maltacom to ninth place, just one point above the bottom three. Bomba Giants are second from the bottom.
Aercomms seem to be watching another title slip away from them and into the hands of Fina First despite beating Fina Excel 6-2. They are 18 points behind the leaders. It was another up-and-down match for them as they opened with a big 867 but then they went down in the second 794-755. Excel rolled a disastrous 621 in the last game against Aercomms' 804 to finish 255 pins down on the set.
Helenio Grech was Aercomms' best player with a 695 including a fine 279 in game one.
After going down 706-772 against lowly Telesystems in the first game, So-Safe got their act together to win the match 6-2. Jenny Swift bowled a 618 threesome for fifth-placed So-Safe.
There was also a 6-2 win for Warsteiner last week, with www.okmalta.com being the losing side in a somewhat scrappy contest.
Mark Muscat played a 548 series for the victors who were 28 pins better over the three games.
It was 6-2 as well for Technicolor against mid-table fellows Globalair Travel. Technicolor claimed the series points with a 34-pin advantage.
Standings: Fina First 118, Aercomms 100, Striking Distance 90, Fina Excel 90, So-Safe 81, www.okmalta.com 72, Globalair Travel 68, Technicolor 66, Maltacom KSSK 55, Warsteiner 54, Bomba Giants 44, Telesystems 26.
Bowlers of the week: Helenio Grech (695) Aercomms; Jenny Swift (609) So-Safe.