After eight weeks of the MTBA National League at the Eden SuperBowl, it looks like we’re in for a struggle to the end between high fliers Fina First and defending champions Aercomms. With each sides waiting for the other to slip up in order to take advantage.

Both sides scored crushing victories this week, Fina First cruising to a 0-8 win in their much hyped clash with the Alley Cats, and Aercomms again claiming he series of the week (2,575) as they saw off Ramis with a similar score line. The pair are gradually drifting away from the pack with Fina leading on 60 points with Aercomms in second place on 52, six points ahead of New Blood, who tied with fourth placed Fina Excel in week eight.

Historically, the Alley Catz have proved to be something of a bogey team for the Fina First crew, and so a lot of speculation had been made about the week eight match between the two.

The Catz could be called to be one of the most enthusiastic, hard working sides in Division I, but they may have underestimated their opponents’ own enthusiasm, paired with boundless determination and vast experience which proved to be too much for them on the night.

Fina First tore into their opponents from the off, taking game one by a huge 228 margin (637-865) and also claiming game two 699-785. A Fina win was the only feasible outcome, and they completed the whitewash with a 756-802 finale in the third. Dennis Mercieca (Fina First), 690. Nathan Brimmer (Alley Catz), 532.

Aercomms could barely put a foot wrong in the victory over Ramis, who also deserve credit for a good 2428 series themselves. In fact, only their opponents and Fina First put in higher scores than Ramis this week.

Aercomms banged in a huge 939 opening game against an 836 from Ramis to set the pace for the match, and that was followed by a close 785-806 in game two. There wasn’t a lot between the two sides in game three either, which ended 807-830 to Aercomms.

One of Malta’s brightest young stars, Justin Caruana Scicluna deserves a special mention, as the 15yr-old belted out an excellent 671 series for Aercomms, making him the team’s high bowler this week. This bodes extremely well for the youngster’s future in the sport-Justin is surely a champion in the making. John Balani (Ramis), 634.

Victory has been an illusive bounty for unlucky Fireballs so far in this their debut season in Div I, although they did take seven from Fina Excel in week three. This week they made sure of victory against Sammy’s Embroideries, in spite of losing the first of the set by 38 pins (738-700).

This was no deterrent for them as they bounced right back to level the match with a 712-781 win in the second, compounded with a narrow 701-711 win in the third to make it 2-6 to Fireballs. Ramon Casha (Fireballs), 575. Sammy Borg (Sammy’s Embroideries), 543.

There was also a majority win for Storm II this week, the full-point victory being stoped in it’s tracks by a surprisingly impressive closing game for bottom side O’Caseys. Storm II took the first with ease, 656-762 and also the second with a score of 677-740, before O’Caseys finally came to life and win game three win of 718-711. Storm II took the series points with their 62 pin advantage (2,151-2,213). Paul Gray (Storm II), 566. Beppe Abela, Pam Demanuele (O’Caseys), both 526 pins.

The first of two draws was that between New Blood and Fina Excel who now occupy the third and fourth spots respectively. New Blood opened the scoring with a narrow 752-743 win, before the match was squared with a big 762-861 win for Fina Excel.

Excel were eventually thankful for that big game, as New Blood came back to take game three 794-742, but Excel were just ahead on the series (2308-2346) to force the draw. Mark Spiteri (Fina Excel), 621. Lawrence Bonnici (New Blood), 575.

Right Deal vs Globalair Travel also ended in a draw. Both sides were slow to start but it was Right Deal who managed to pick up the pace from the second game, the as the series progressed 684-699, 783-711, 761-785. This meant that Right Deal won the series by 33 pins to share the points (2,228-2,195). Shawn Bugeja (Right Deal), 551. Simon Burke (Globalair Travel), 572.

Standings- Division I, Week 8

Fina First-60, Aercomms-52, New Blood-46, Fina Excel-43, Ramis-42, Alley Catz-34, Globalair Travel-30, Storm II-24, Right Deal-18, Fireballs-15, Sammy’s Embroideries-14, O’Casey’s-6

Bowlers of the Week

Dennis Mercieca (Fina First) 690; Sue Abela (Fina First) 614