The fifth Senior Championships, organised by the MTBA, was played recently at the Eden SuperBowl, St Julian’s.
The event for 50-plus players saw Paul Baldacchino hold on to his title as Josephine Borg was the top performer in the women’s tournament.
Facing stiff competition from a solid field, Baldacchino had to be on top of his game to keep his title defence bid on track.
He took the lead from the opening game with a 193, just ahead of Roy Swift with a 188 effort.
The pair kept things tight over games two and three, with Baldacchino’s higher scratch efforts in risk of being thwarted by Swift’s far superior age bonus.
Baldacchino rolled a 247 and 227 to improve his lead to 33 pins (667-634), with Sammy Borg not too far behind the leading two.
Ultimately, it was his greater consistency that won the day for Baldacchino as he rolled a 627 total over the back three against a 591 from Swift to seal victory by 69 pins (1,294-1,225). Borg remained third with a final tally of 1,172.
With 2013 winner Josephine Bonello unable to defend her title, it meant a new champion was on the cards in the women’s tournament.
Three-time champion Borg (2010, 2011, 2012) was the sure favourite. She led the competition at the halfway point of the six-game series with a 559 total with Mary Galea and Marianne Mula on the chase.
Borg rounded off the event with a sound 199 for a 1,095 gross total. Galea was second on 995 and Mula third, 967.
The Senior Championships were also supported by Nutrition Empire.