Fina First secure title with one week to spare

It's all over bar the shouting in the Middlesea League where in Week 18, the penultimate league fixtures, the three top placings have been confirmed.

Ironically, Fina First played second-placed side and rivals Aercomms, beating them 6-2 to make sure of the title, the latter settling for second place. Third place went to Globalair Travel after they pulled off a 6-2 win over Royal Shock.

All that remains to be decided in the final position round is who, between HSBC and Inlusion, will join bottom side The Clan in Division Two next season.

Fina First's victory over Aercomms means they will retain the title regardless of what happens in the position round, as no fewer than 14 points separate the two sides.

Fina edged closer to the title by taking the opening game of the match 778- 758, meaning that with a 12-point advantage, Aercomms would have to rally to a 6-2 victory, and then take all eight points on position night to snatch the league.

That extremely slim chance was promptly dashed as Fina went on to take game two 855-790 and make the title safe. Game three had no relevance after that, but Aercomms managed to take it 784-796 for their two-point dividend.

Bowlers of the week: Paul Baldacchino (Aercomms, 675); Sue Abela (Fina First, 643).

Standings: Fina First 118, Aercomms 104, Globalair Travel 82, Royal Shock 72, Ramis 72, Turu's Knights 67, PharmaVet 66, Inlusion 57, HSBC 52, The Clan 30.

DUWPA on top in Doubles League

After 16 from a total of 28 weeks in the current Handicap Doubles League, organised by the Eden SuperBowl, 2007 champions DUWPA, represented by Kenneth Arpa, Dennis Mercieca and Ray Falzon Reale, are sitting pretty at the top of the classification.

DUWPA have bagged 92 from the 128 league points played for to date, an impressive game win rate of 72 per cent.

Hot on DUWPA's heels, in second place and just two points behind, are Ramis, also a very talented outfit comprising John Balani, Mark Spiteri and Brian Farrugia.

In third place, on 87 points, is another very familiar name, Fina, the team formation featuring Sue Abela, Justin Caruana Scicluna and Neil Sullivan.

Apart from the prestige gained from winning the league, the nine teams taking part in the doubles competition are also challenging for a cash prize fund at season's end.