Week six of the Middlesea Valletta Life National League has been played at the Eden SuperBowl, where Interwetten Alley Catz walked off with the win of the week by tearing apart Fina Excel with a surprise 8 – 0 result to replace them in second place, tied for first with Aercomms.

There were also eight points for current champions Fina First, at the expense of Fireballs, with Fina marking up the highest team series from all four divisions with their 2507 tally. Other Div I matches saw majority wins for Ramis against Royal Shock, Sammy’s Embroideries against Swoosh, and also for leaders Aercomms over New Blood. The match between Right Deal and Globalair Travel ended in a 4-all draw.

Interwetten Alley Catz advance to second, earning their place among the big guns with an excellent full point win over Fina Excel. The Catz broadsided Excel with an 850 – 734 opening win to give them an early 116 pin advantage, and they went on to double their points in game two which was a lot tighter, but falling to the Catz 742 – 712.

Fina Excel had a mountain to climb if they wanted to take something away from the match, but another high 827 game from The Catz clinched the 100 per cent win as Excel could only respond with a 750 in game three. Philippe Vancell (Interwetten Alley Catz), 647. Justin Caruana Scicluna (Fina Excel), 589.

Fina First are progressing through the classification, and are now fourth after their 8 – 0 pounding of Fireballs this week which they achieved with a solid and high-scoring performance. Fina put on a show of great consistency throughout their 2507 series, winning game one 841 – 717, and doubling up with an easy 830 – 679 in game two.

Fireballs never stood a chance against their formidable opponents, and were finally out for the count when Fina rounded off with an 836 – 695 win in the last of the set. Dennis Mercieca (Fina First), 693 Bowler of the Week. Ramon Casha (Fireballs), 543.

Leaders Aercomms picked up a win against New Blood (9th) in week six, but dropped two points in doing so. They started well, taking the first game 822 – 764, but then New Blood came straight back to level the match with a tight 787 – 797 equaliser in game two. Only 48 pins down in game three, New Blood came out looking for the draw, but in the end Aercomms just did enough to take the match, winning the game 738 – 724 and so the series by 62 pins. Ray Falzon Reale (Aercomms), 643. Lawrence Bonnici (New Blood), 585.

Ramis also won 6 – 2 against Royal Shock (10th) this week, moving up to third place thanks to the Alley Catz vs Fina Excel result. Game one was a real slugging match, Ramis prevailing in the 831 – 818 score line, and they rode the wave to make it 4 – 0 with another win in game two which ended 803 – 692. Ramis’ game slipped a little in the third, whereas Royal Shock played their game of the night to win it 764 – 840 and so earn a two point share of the spoils. Leli Baldacchino (Ramis), 654. Clive Farrugia (Royal Shock), 628.

Sammy’s Embroideries’ season goal is survival in the top flight, and they took another step towards safety with a 2 – 6 win against bottom side Swoosh this week. The series progressed in tit-for-tat style with Sammy’s drawing first blood, taking game one with ease, 727 – 815 the score. Game two could barely have been closer, but Swoosh managed to draw level on points with a 685 – 682 win. Sammy’s were still well ahead on pinfall at the start of game three, and went on to win it 750 – 797 to take the series by 132 pins. Manwel Saliba (Sammy’s Embroideries), 655. Ryan Grech (Swoosh), 593.

The match between Right Deal and Globalair Travel finished all square thanks to a high 806 from Globalair in game two, and a very close final game. Right Deal opened the scoring with a 702 – 694 victory in game one before going down 773 – 806 in game two. The match was wide open as the last of the series commenced, and Right deal clinched it by one solitary pin (763 – 762), thus Globalair claimed the series pins to force the draw (2238 – 2262). Colin Attard (Right Deal), 572. Simon Burke (Globalair Travel), 636.

Standings – Middlesea Valletta Life National Division I, Week 6

Aercomms – 38, Interwetten Alley Catz – 38, Ramis – 36, Fina First – 32, Fina Excel – 32, Globalair Travel – 24, Right Deal – 20, Sammy's Embroideries – 16, New Blood – 14, Royal Shock – 14, Fireballs – 14, Swoosh – 10

Bowlers of the Week

Dennis Mercieca (693) Fina First.

Lorraine Casha (626) Interwetten Alley Catz.