Week nine marks the end of the first round in the MSV Life National League at the SuperBowl, where leaders, okmalta.com increased to a six point advantage.
Second placed Ramis dropped two points in their victory over Grolsch, while third team Royal Shock took all eight against Gladiators.
Fina had a nightmare match, losing all eight against a lucky Salitos side, and the clash between Turu’s Knights and The Clan resulted in a full points win for the latter.
Having knocked Ramis off the top spot in the previous fixture, okmalta.com clinched a 100% victory against Middlesea Insurance this week to stretch their Div I lead to six points at the halfway stage of the regular season.
Game one was easy pickings for them, the 760 - 666 score line giving okmalta.com the early lead, but the second of the series was much closer, finishing 757 - 741 to double their lead. Game three was a high scoring thriller, with okmalta.com winning it 833 - 802 to make round off the whitewash. Neil Sullivan (okmalta.com), 619. Cole Cooper (Middlesea Insurance), 540.
Fina suffered the shock result of the week, dropping to fourth after an 8 - 0 defeat at the hands of Salitos who are now sixth. Fina were abysmal by their own high standards, losing the low opening game 688 - 666, before Salitos went four ahead with a brighter 746 - 690 game two win.
Salitos could barely believe their fortune in coming up against a Fina foursome well below par, and they clinched all eight points with a final 716 - 689 win. David Xuereb (Salitos), 523. Sue Abela (Fina), 577, female bowler of the week.
Second placed Ramis managed a majority victory against their week nine opponents bottom side, Grolsch. Ramis opened strongly to draw first blood with a 772 - 833 opener, only to see the match go all square, as Grolsch responded with a sound 781 - 756 game two win. The match was anybody’s for the taking as the decider rolled off, and that fell 741 - 757 to Ramis which was enough to make sure of the series points, and the match (2294 - 2346). Rankin Camilleri (Ramis), 650, male bowler of the week. Steve Cassar (Grolsch), 617.
Royal Shock are now third thanks to their trouble free 8 - 0 drubbing of Gladiators who lie eighth. The full point victory never seemed in doubt over the three-set, with Royal Shock taking game one 687 - 613 before going on to double their lead with a slick 847 - 701 win in the second.
The Gladiators were punch-drunk by the time the last game commenced, and they lost that 741 - 680 to end what was a miserable evening for them, but a very fruitful one for the victors. Joe Cassar (Royal Shock), 579. Jean Marc Galea (Gladiators), 520.
The Clan move into fifth place after they defeated Turu’s Knights 0 - 8 this week, and shot the team series of the week in the process, an impressive 2440 gross total. In fact, their opening win of 743 - 874 also honoured them the highest game of the week.
The second of the set was closer (753 - 788) but nothing to worry about, and the Clansmen sealed all eight points with a solid 729 - 778 game three victory. Giancarlo Tolu (The Clan), 634. Tiziana Carannante (Turu’s Knights), 569.
Bowlers of the Week
Rankin Camilleri (Ramis), 650; Sue Abela (Fina), 577
Standings – Div. I, Week 9
okmalta.com - 62, Ramis - 56, Royal Shock - 48, Fina - 40, The Clan - 34, Salitos - 32, Turu’s Knights - 30, Gladiators - 20, Middlesea Insurance - 20, Grolsch - 18