The first fixtures of round two of the current MTBA National League have been played at the Eden SuperBowl, where Fina Excel bounced back from their previous week's drubbing at the hands of table toppers Fina First, with a solid 0-8 win against Right Deal. The leaders also picked up another eight points against Globalair Travel in week 12, but the match that grabbed the attention of all Div I bowlers was the surprising 6-2 win for Sammy's Embroideries against defending champions Aercomms. In other matches New Blood took all eight from Storm II, as did Alley Catz against struggling Fireballs. And there was a 6-2 win for Ramis against O'Casey's.

Fina Excel were glad to welcome back one of their strongest bowlers, Brian Farrugia this week, and were right back in winning form, rolling the highest team series of the week (2,361) in their full point win over a poor Right Deal side.

They took game one by 51 pins, 730-781, before doubling there advantage with a 723-764 win in the second. Their best effort came in game three which ended 724-816 to complete the set. Brian Farrugia (Fina Excel), 633. Ramon Stafrace (Right Deal), 571.

Relegation threatened Sammy's Embroideries pulled off the shock result of the night as they took on champions Aercomms, and came out on top of the 6-2 score line.

The Aercomms foursome lacked consistency which was reflected in their series scores, as they opened with a good 767-799 win in game one, before stumbling to a dismal 703-681 defeat in the second, allowing their opponents to draw level.

This was a big confidence booster for Sammy's, who started game three with maximum determination, which helped them on to a great 819 game against a mediocre 738 effort from Aercomms. The series points went to Sammy's Embroideries by 71 pins (2,289-2,218). Manwel Saliba (Sammy's Embroideries), 592. Ray Falzon Reale (Aercomms), 588.

Fina First's championship campaign continues to gather momentum, Globalair Travel being the latest team to go down at the hands of the league leaders in yet another 100% Fina victory.

There were no high team scores from either side during the three game set, but Fina First always had the edge over Globalair as the match progressed 766-708, 747-709, 759-739. This puts Fina a massive 20 points ahead in the top spot ahead of Aercomms and it looks like that's where they'll stay, leaving the rest of the pack fighting it out for second and third place.

Matthew Caruana (Fina First), 639, Simon Burke (Globalair Travel), 557.

New Blood scooped all eight of the points against Storm II to stay fourth, as the losers remain hovering just above the drop zone.

They started with a 747-722 win in game one to open the scoring, and backed that up with a 767-726 result in game two. The final of the set was the lowest for both sides, ending 709-665 in New Blood's favour to complete the whitewash. Lawrence Bonnici (New Blood), 571. Paul Gray (Storm II), 557.

There was also an eight-count for the Alley Catz in their match against in-trouble Fireballs, as they face the prospect of a quick drop back down to Div I in this their debut season in the top flight.

Alley Catz were 20 pins better in game one which ended 724-704, and took the second a little more comfortably although neither team scored well (709-662).

Fireballs came very close to a minor share of the spoils in the final game, but their hopes of salvaging anything were quashed in the final frame when the Catz just managed to pip them with a six-pin deficit (761-755). Raphael Arnold (Aley Catz), 616. Ramon Casha (Fireballs), 557.

The final showdown of the week ended in a 6-2 win for Ramis, a poor O'Casey's side finishing on the losing side.

Neither team were impressive as the games progressed (Ramis-O'Casey's) : 702-670, 683-639, 692-694.

This meant Ramis claimed the series pins with their 74 pin advantage (2,077-2003). Charles Farrugia (Ramis), 552, Antoine DeGiorgio (O'Casey's), 508.

Standings - Div. I

Fina First-86, Aercomms-66, Fina Excel-63, New Blood-62, Ramis-56, Alley Catz-56, Globalair Travel-51, Right Deal-38, Storm II -35, Sammy's Embroideries-24, O'Casey's-22, Fireballs-17.

Bowlers of the week:

Matthew Caruana (Fina First) 639; Sue Abela (Fina First) 568.