Caruana, Casha retain titles

The 2005 MTBA Intermediate and Junior Championships were recently played at the Eden SuperBowl.

2004 Intermediate (U-23) champions Matthew Caruana and Lorraine Casha held on to their respective titles and in the Juniors (U-16) competition, Justin Caruana Scicluna and Luisa Buttigieg claimed the glory.

A total of 35 promising bowlers started off in the opening round - 16 games over two sessions. The top eight qualified to round two.

Round one was a 16-game tussle between Mauro Anastasi and defending champ Caruana, with Anastasi managing to hold a tight edge over both sessions. Anastasi, on 1,666 pins, was just 21 ahead of Caruana's 1,645. Caruana Scicluna was third on 1,624 pins, 74 ahead of Rankin Camilleri.

Caruana took an early lead on Day Two thanks to a better start, but then Anastasi shot a stunning 279 in game four to put him back on top. He finished the round with a 3,271. Caruana held on in second with 3,158. Caruana Scicluna remained third on 3,149, already sure of the Junior title, and going through to round two with a fighting chance of winning the double. Camilleri also held his position in fourth (3,069) ahead of other qualifiers Peter Mallia, Ramon Casha, Philippe Vancell and Keith Bugeja.

The top four went on to make up the male stepladder finals after the four second round games, although there were some crucial positional changes in this round.

Caruana snatched the no.1 spot on a score of 2,400, just a solitary pin ahead of Caruana Scicluna. Anastasi made the finals in third place and Camilleri was fourth.

In the finals, Anastasi faced Camilleri in the first final game, which saw the latter pulling his best game of the event out of the hat to win 259-188. Camilleri then just pipped Caruana Scicluna 208-206.

Camilleri's rise through the classification was put to an end at the very last hurdle, the final against top qualifier Matthew Caruana. It was here that the latter also played his game of the tournament, winning the match with a 258-193 scoreline.

Two in a row

Casha's ever increasing experience at higher levels of competition have placed her in a class of her own in her category. She finished round one's 16 games on 3,057 pins.

Tiziana Carannante was second on 2,856 and Faye Formosa third. Valentina Bezzina went through in fourth place.

Bernadette Carannante, Anne-marie Bonello and Stephanie Said filled the next three positions and Luisa Buttigieg claimed eighth place, along with the Juniors title.

Casha shot a 238, 176, 158, 236 set in round two and was a cert for the top qualifying spot. Tiziana Carannante also retained her placing in second, as did Formosa in third.

The only change in the top four was a leapfrog of Bezzina by Berna-dette Carannante. She won the first match of the stepladder, overcoming Formosa 171-151. Carannante had no such luck in the semi-final though against sister Tiziana.

Casha awaited in the ultimate encounter, and was soon holding a clear advantage The game ended 203-172 to give Casha her second consecutive national Intermediate title.

Junior boys: 1. Justin Caruana Scicluna, 2. Matthew Cossai, 3. Matthew Mangion.

Junior girls: 1. Luisa Buttigieg, 2. Cynthia Duca, 3. Claire Bugeja.