Only five weeks remain now that week 13 of the MSV Life National League has been played at the Eden SuperBowl, where a four-all draw between Fina and Ramis, coupled with an 8-0 victory over Gladiators for okmalta.com, saw the latter’s Division I lead increase to six points. Turu’s Knights can breath a little easier, after their full point win against Middlesea Insurance lifted them to sixth place, 14 points clear of relegation, whereas Grolsch remain in the drop zone in spite of their 2-6 win against Salitos.

The clash between The Clan and Royal Shock produced the second

4-4 draw of the night.

Fina versus Ramis was potentially the match of the week, with Ramis aiming to make a claim on the top spot and Fina needing a substantial win to also keep in touch with the title race.

This meant that the eventual 4-4 match result was a frustrating disappointment for both sides. Ramis gained the early advantage, albeit a narrow one with a 787-795 game one win, but that was soon cancelled out as Fina won the second game with a more convincing 822-676 score line.

That big win was to serve them well, as Ramis came back to win game three 672-745 and hand the series points to their opponents by a 65pin margin (2,281-2,216). Rankin Camilleri (Ramis), 646. Kenneth Arpa (Fina), 619.

League leaders okmalta.com made the most of the Fina/Ramis result by thrashing Gladiators 8-0, and so extend their lead over Ramis to six points.

Okmalta.com began the rout with a monster 962 game, against an otherwise respectable 730 effort from Gladiators, beating the previous high game of the season (Fina, 902) by no less than 60 pins. What game two lacked in such high scores, it definitely made up for in thrills as indicated by the 752-751 score line which made it 4-0 to okmalta.com, who then wrapped the points up with a 740-722 final victory to make sure of all eight.

Dennis Mercieca okmalta.com’s star man, as his superb 687 series (279-184-224) earned him the ‘bowler of the week’ honours. Jean Marc Galea (Gladiators) 557.

Turu’s Knights took another lunge towards survival in week thirteen, with an important 8-0 win against bottom side Middlesea Insurance that takes them up to sixth place.

The Knights were barely troubled in their quest for the points, as the three-set progressed fully in their favour: 765-725, 817-753, 751-690. They are now 16 points clear of the two relegation spots, while Middlesea remain firmly rooted to the foot of the table. Ryan Grech (Turu’s Knights), 578. Alan Borg (Middlesea Insurance), 514.

Grolsch still occupy the second relegation position in spite of winning this week’s match against Salitos

2-6.

They bagged the early points with an initial 760-778 win, and then managed to double their lead with a stronger 709-808 win in game two. Salitos finally claimed their two point share in game three with a narrow 785-775 win, but the series points and the march belonged to Grolsch (2,254-2,361). Colin Attard (Grolsch), 597. Martin Deguara (Salitos), 565.

The mid-table clash between The Clan and Royal Shock ended with an equal share of the points for both sides.

There wasn’t a lot between them in the first two games of the series, both falling to Royal Shock with scores of 745-759 and 713-728 respectively.

This allowed The Clan to force a draw with an 814-695 final win to take also the series points (2,272-2,182). Giancarlo Tolu (The Clan), 609. Clive Farrugia (Royal Shock), 579.

Bowlers of the Week

Dennis Mercieca (Ramis), 687

Tiziana Carannante (Turu’s Knights), 556

Standings-Div I, Week 13

okmalta.com-86, Ramis-80, Fina-66, Royal Shock-56, The Clan-48, Turu’s Knights-46, Salitos-44, Gladiators-40, Grolsch-32, Middlesea Insurance-22

Standings-Div. II, Week 14

HSBC-90, MIA-70, Spare Me PLZ-68, Supreme-62, BOV-60, Blitzkrieg-57, J Grima & Co-48, One4All-40, Vintage-38, Touch of Class-27