New champions Ramis are now four points clear three weeks into the new MSV Life National Leagie, having easily dispatched Middlesea Insurance win a 100% victory. Fina were the only other side to take all eight points against The Clan, pulling themselves up into third place, as okmalta.com took six points against Turu’s Knights to go second. Gladiators also took six points against Salitos, as did Royal Shock from their clash against Grolsch (ex-PharmaVet).
The opening win for Ramis against Middlesea Insurance was the closest of the series, although the two were still separated by thirty pins (783-753). Game two however, saw Ramis take control of the match with a much more convincing 782-625 win, putting themselves 187 ahead going into game three. The champions’ pace slowed dramatically as they could sense that victory was theirs, and all eight points were secured by a 679-639 game win. Rankin Camilleri (Ramis), 588.
There was only one other full-point victory in week three, and that went to Fina much to the chagrin of opponents The Clan who had managed to bag 14 points from the previous two matches. Game one was a high scoring nail biter, falling to Fina by just 12 pins (805-817). Game two was a totally different story, Fina making short work of The Clan to double their lead with an easy 592-768 win. Fina went on to complete the whitewash with a final 772-825 win, thus advancing from sixth to third place, while the losers dropped from second down to sixth. Sue Abela (Fina), 649 bowler of the week-outright. Philip Grupetta (The Clan), 529.
Okmalta.com improved one spot to second place thanks to their majority victory against Turu’s Knights. Okmalta.com too the early lead thanks to their 695-716 opening win, but then the Knights pulled back to draw level with a good 822-744 win in game two. That meant a 57pin advantage for Turu’s as the deciding third game rolled off, but okmalta.com were more than equal to the challenge, winning hat 686-879 to take the series by a margin of 136 for the match (2,203-2,339). Neil Sullivan (okmalta.com), 619, male bowler of the week. Peter Mallia (Turu’s Knights), 532.
The Gladiators also registered a 6-2 win over Salitos, who remain in the relegation zone ahead of last placed Turu’s Knights. It was Salitos who were first on the scoreboard however, winning the first of the set 755-810, before the Gladiators scooped a 750-695 game two win to regain parity and leave the two sides absolutely level going into the all-important finale.
That could have easily swung in favour of either side, but it was the Gladiators who finally snatched victory with a close 740-718 result. Jean Marc Galea (The Gladiators), 550. Andre Grech (Salitos), 571.
There was also a six-pointer for Royal Shock (fifth) over Grolsch in week three. The Shockers opened with a 670-723 win for a two point lead, and then managed to double that advantage by winning game two 655-685. Grolsch then managed to pull their game together in the last game of the series, winning that 734-708 for their consolatory two-point share of the spoils. Pierre Yves Galea (Royal Shock), 588. Steve Cassar (Grolsch), 527.
Bowlers of the Week
Neil Sullivan (okmalta.com), 619; Sue Abela (Fina), 649
Standings – Div. I, Week 3
Ramis-22, okmalta.com-18, Fina-16, Gladiators-16, Royal Shock-16, The Clan-14, Grolsch-6, Middlesea Insurance-6, Salitos-4, Turu’s Knights-2
Standings - Div. II, Week 3
HSBC-18, Spare Me Plz-16, J Grima & Co-16, Supreme-14, Blitzkrieg-14, BOV-12, One4All-10, MIA-8, Vintage-8, Touch of Class-4