Week eight from a total of 23 in the Middlesea Valletta Life National League being played at the Eden SuperBowl, saw defending champions Fina First close in on leaders Aercomms thanks to their devastating 100% victory over Globalair Travel, in which Fina shot the best team series of the season to date. They now lie second, six points adrift of Aercomms, who were also 8 – 0 winners over Interwetten Alley Catz. In other matchers, Right Deal pulled of an 8 – 0 win over league losers Swoosh, while there were majority wins for Fina Excel against Fireballs, and Royal Shock against New Blood. The match between title challengers Ramis and relegation threatened Sammy’s Embroideries ended in a 4-all Draw

Fina First were in vintage high-scoring form in their 0 – 8 demolition of Globalair Travel, and carried of the highest team series of the season to date as an added bonus (2675 pins, scratch). Fittingly, the three game set started with the biggest team game of the season, a phenomenal 948 against Globalair’s 768 effort, largely thanks to a spectacular 280 game from Sue Abela. Game two was played to a slower pace, falling in Fina First’s favour with a 735 – 822 scoreline, but Fina were over 900 again in the third which ended 711 – 914, crystallizing Fina’s massive victory which took them to second place in the classification. Honours for both the female and male Bowler of the Week also went to Fina First, as Abela went on to complete a fine 692 series, and Dennis Mercieca shot an excellent 733, the third season record secured by the Fina stars in week eight. Simon Burke (Globalair Travel), 617.

Aercomms still lead Div I, looking over their shoulders to witness Fina First’s menacing advance on the top spot. They also picked up all eight points from their clash with Interwetten Alley Catz (fifth), their 2531 set beaten only by Fina First’s sterling performance. Aercomms were an easy 94 points ahead after winning the opener 844 – 750, before producing their best of the night to double their lead with an 870 – 802 win in game two. The Catz could do little t stem the flow and game closest in the final game, but were still 47 points shy as it finished 817 – 770 to complete the whitewash. Pablo Baldacchino (Aercomms), 709. Lorraine Casha (IW Alley Catz), 638.

The third and final full point win of the week went to Right Deal against Div I pushovers Swoosh, who now seem rooted to the foot of the standings. Although game one was to be a demoralizing 811 – 664 defeat for Swoosh, they were unlucky not to draw level on points in game two, which they only lost by 12 pins (708 – 696). Right Deal’s game was back on track with an easy 773 – 691 win in game three to cement their 8 – 0 victorious result. Colin Attard (Right Deal), 591. Alan Sammut (Swoosh), 524.

Ramis drop from second to third having only managed a 4-all draw against Sammy’s Embroideries this week. It was thanks to Ramis’ big 781 – 602 opening win that they managed to hold on to their equal share of the spoils, as Sammy’s managed to narrowly snatch both of the subsequent games, with respective score lines of 741 – 758, and 779 – 782. This meant Ramis snatched the series points with their 159 pin advantage (2301 – 2142). Johan Balani (Ramis), 687. Sammy Bord (Sammy’s Embroideries), 559.

Fina Excel came out on the winning end of their 2 – 6 encounter with Fireballs (11th), to stay in fourth place. The teams played tit-for-tat in the first two games with Excel easily winning game one 666 – 842, before dropping to a 706 in game two, which saw Fireballs level it with their 781 equalizer. The two sides’ fortunes switched to and fro all through the match, and Fina Excel clinched it in the decider with their 798 game easily topping another low 666 from Fireballs. Mark Spiteri (Fina Excel), 600. Keith Bugeja (Fireballs), 585.

Royal Shock walked away as winners of their 2 – 6 clash with New Blood. They were hopeful of picking up all eight points as they took game one 777 – 823, and doubled their lead with a narrow 741 – 758 win in game two. New Blood came back in game three, winning it 733 – 688, missing out on the series points, and the draw, by just 12 pins (2251 – 2263). David Fenech (Royal Shock), 629. Lawrence Bonnici (New Blood), 574.

Standings: Middlesea Valletta Life National League Division I, Week 18

Aercomms – 54, Fina First – 48, Ramis – 48, Fina Excel – 46, Interwetten Alley Catz – 38, Right Deal – 30, Royal Shock – 26, Globalair Travel – 24, New Blood – 22, Sammy’s Embroideries – 20, Fireballs – 18, Swoosh – 10

Bowlers of the week:

Dennis Mercieca (733) Fina First

Sue Abela (692)Fina First