Okmalta.com beat Globalair to go second. Ramis go ten points clear, full points for Fina
Normality returned to the Middlesea Valletta Life National League in week 15, after a period of match postponements and resultant disputes, with Ramis winning against PharmaVet to extend a ten point lead at the top of Div I. Okmalta.com replaced Globalair in the second spot by beating them 2-6, while fourth placed Fina took all eight against The Clan. Bottom side got a glimmer of survival hope by beating Turu’s Knights 6-2, while there was a similar victory for Royal Shock against Gladiators.
Week 15’s main event was the clash between stable mates Globalair and okmalta.com, who were lying in second and third places respectively prior to their match. After a week 14 draw with The Clan, Globalair needed a win to pick up their title challenge, but their opponents had their own aspirations about that.
Okmalta.com won the opening game 810-837, and then went four ahead by taking game two in high scoring style, 746-962 the result. Globalair’s frustration was clear, but they managed to rally and claim a game three win (815-780), to salvage two points from the contest. Mark Spiteri (okmalta.com), 683. Neil Sullivan (Globalair), 621.
Leaders Ramis are now ten points clear with three fixtures remaining in the qualification schedule, thanks to their 100% victory over seventh team PharmaVet. It was another massive series for the table toppers, who didn’t find too much resistance from their opponents as they won the first of the set 755-944, and then moved still closer to that magical 1000 mark with a 716-972 win in the second.
PharmaVet improved to a sound 798 effort in the third, but that too belonged to Ramis thanks to their 882 winner, to round off a super 2798 series. Rankin Camilleri (Ramis), 760, male bowler of the week. Melissa Swift (PharmaVet), 617.
Fina have had a rough time of things in recent weeks, but bounced back with a very strong 0-8 win over next-to-last The Clan this week. Fina began strongly with a 727-832 opening win, and their domination continued into game two which they also won, 717-907.
The Clan were finally blown off the lanes with a crushing 738-933 game three score line, for Fina to easily take home all of the points. Justin Caruana Scicluna (Fina), 720. Giancarlo Tolu (The Clan), 548.
Bottom side HSBC bagged a rare victory in week fifteen, with sixth placed Turu’s Knights coming off worst from the encounter. Ironically it was the Knights who got off to the stronger start, winning the first of the set 747-797, but their lead was rather short lived as HSBC responded with a good 841-761 equaliser in game two.
The deciding third was closer run, and fell 781-758 to the bankers, who claimed the series points with their 53 pin advantage (2369-2316). Samy Borg (HSBC), 561. Ryan Grech (Turu’s Knights), 662.
The Gladiators suffered a 6-2 defeat at the hands of Royal Shock in the final clash of the week, suffering a heavy 934-830 game one defeat to set the tone for the match. Royal shock then made it 4-0 by taking the more subdued second game 759-719, before Gladiators came back to snatch their two point share in a cracking third game which they won 838-856. Clive Farrugia (Royal Shock), 655. Jean Marc Galea (Gladiators), 630
Bowlers of the Week
Rankin Camilleri (Ramis), 76; Sue Abela (Fina), 618
Standings – Div. I, Week 15
Ramis-100, okmalta.com-90, Globalair-88, Fina-76, Royal Shock-54, Turu’s Knights-52, PharmaVet-50, Gladiators-38, The Clan-28, HSBC-16
Standings – Div. II, Week 14
Salitos-76, Middlesea-76, Spare Me Plz-68, J Grima & Co-68, Malta Int Airport-64, Supreme-58, Blitzkrieg-50, Bank of Valletta-46, 4 Play-28, Atlas Insurance-26