HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — The fourth day of the team competition in the candlepin World Team Bowling Championships at the Halifax Fairlanes Bowling Center is in the books and the defending champions are in a great spot to attempt to win another title.

USA East defeated Big Shot Lanes of Musquodoboit Harbor, Nova Scotia, in the first round of the playoffs by a score of 1,910-1,868.

The team finished second in the Pelham Electric Division with a score of 60/28 and trail first place deGraaf Brothers Inc of Nova Scotia who posted a score of 70/18.

Teams are separated into two divisions and play an 11-string qualifying phase to determine which teams will make the playoffs. The top five teams from each division reach the playoffs and the the champion of each division receives a bye through the first two rounds.

A+/Fairlanes of Halifax, Nova Scotia, finished first in the Ramada Hotel Division with a record of 66-22. Team Lucky Strike finished second in the division with a score of 64-24.

In other first-round action, Maria’s Sub’s of Massachusetts defeated Woodstock Bowlacade of New Brunswick, 2,030-1,926.

Lucky Strike of Massachusetts defeated Big 20 of Maine 1959-1889, and Crazy Train of Maine and Massachusetts defeated Vacationland of Maine, 1884-1829.

Matt Harnett, of A+ Fairlanes, earned the high average with a average of 132.6 as he edged out second-place finisher Jeff Surette’s 132.5. Justin Corkum picked up the high single score for the tournament with a score of 192.