New season... same story for Fina First, Aercomms

The new Honda National League got underway at the Eden Superbowl last week, with current champions Fina First getting off to a flying start, bowling one of the highest series ever registered in the league history, during an 8-0 whitewash of www.okmalta.com.

Aercomms, last-ditch runners-up to Fina for the past two seasons, also took full points in their first fixture, as did Technicolor and Globalair Travel.

Fina First are playing without captain Sue Abela for the opening five weeks of the tournament.

Abela is currently attending a training camp in the US. However, her team surely couldn't have dreamt of a better opening performance to the season, which they hope will render their 11th consecutive title.

The champions rolled an amazing scratch series of 2,630 (2,684 with handicap) totally crushing their opponents in the process.

Fina's Steve Cassar was the star of the evening with brilliant games of 259, 209 and 258 for a 726 series. Team-mate Mark Bugeja also played consistently over 200 (high game 256) for a great 681.

Aercomms got straight back into the fray rolling the second best series of the night (2,386) in a trouble free 8-0 win over newly-promoted Telesystems. They were sure of the win as they easily took the first two games, carrying a huge 349-pin advantage into Game 3, which they also won 747-719.

Clive Farrugia was in fine form with a 682 series for the winners, as Emmanuel Saliba rolled a 541 for Telesystems. Aercomms will be hoping it's a case of third time lucky this season, having been pipped at the post by Fina First in the last two leagues.

There was another 8-0 defeat for some other newcomers - Maltacom KSSK. Again, it was the new boys who found the going tough, as Technicolor won the first two 727-658 and 753-735. Maltacom KSSK's fate was sealed by a big 810 from Technicolor against their 679 in the third game.

Globalair Travel were the other team to take full points in the opening round with Bomba Giants at the losing end. Neil German was high man for the winners with a 559 series. His opposite number was David Debono who took 547 pins - the only player to breach the 500-mark for Bomba Giants.

A first game scoreline of 815-822 augured well for a close match between Fina Excel and So-Safe. But Fina Excel came back strongly to win the remaining two games and the match 6-2.

The final fixture was between Striking Distance (ex-Maltacom) and promoted side Warsteiner. It ended 6-2 for Striking Distance who only found themselves still in the top flight through sheer luck!

Bowlers of the week: Steve Cassar 726 (Fina First); Joanna Attard 553 (Technicolor).