Week 14 of the current MSV Life National League at the SuperBowl saw leaders okmalta.com claim a majority win over Malta Int. Airport and so increase their advantage to six points.
Another big factor in that was the surprise result of the week, wherein second placed Fina were beaten 2-6 by last placed Gladiators. Ramis also picked up a majority against Royal Shock, and the universal 6-2 pattern continued with victories for Turu’s Knights against HSBC, and The Clan against Salitos.
Okmalta.com are moving slowly closer to a possible retention of the league title, beating week fourteen opponents M.I.A. in a 2-6 result, to go six clear on 80 points. Game one one something of a walkover with the defending champions winning it 639-798, but then in an incredible reversal of fortune, M.I.A. bounced back to level the match after two with an inspired 801-692 win. Okmalta.com still held a 50 pin advantage going into the decider, which they again won with relative ease, 622-760 to seal the match. Neil Sullivan (okmalta.com), 593.
Fina took a 2-6 tumble this week, against unlikely victors in the form of bottom side, Gladiators. The supposed Fina big guns were seemingly at sixes and sevens from the opening shots, losing game one 726-754, and then finding themselves four down after Gladiators took the second game 724-789.
Fina finally made it onto the scoreboard in the final game although more through their opponents’ lack of consistency rather than on their own bowling merit, a 758-715 win rewarding them with their quarter share of the points. Jean Marc Galea (Gladiators), 552. Justin Caruana Scicluna (Fina), 601.
Third placed Ramis picked up their six points to the detriment of Royal Shock, who are in fifth place. Here it was the eventual losers who claimed the early lead, Royal Shock winning the close opening game 785-771.
Game two was only marginally more open, with Ramis clinching it by just 18 pins (756-774) to make it two all, with a mere four pins separating the two sides as game three rolled off. Ramis managed to bag it with more room to manoeuvre, their 717-819 win making sure of victory. Ray Falzon Reale (Ramis), 621, male bowler of the week. Malcolm Pace (Royal Shock), 602.
Turu’s Knights are positioned atop of the mid-section in fourth place, and were 6-2 winners against HSBC (7th) in week fourteen. The Knights opened the scoring with the biggest team game of the week, winning comfortably, 848-635.
They continued in similar style to then claim a 4-0 lead by taking game two 811-737, but then suffered a big drop in pace in game three, which they ended up losing by just three pins (705-708) to hand HSBC their two points. Ryan Grech (Turu’s Knights), 620. Helenio Grech (HSBC), 513.
The Clan were the last team to take home their six points, at the expense of relegation candidates Salitos. They took the early advantage with a 760-702 game one win, and then made it 4-0 with a nervous 736-706 win in game two.
Game three saw Salitos step up their game by a notch or two, and netted themselves a 740-798 win to avoid the whitewash. Giancarlo Tolu (The Clan), 578. Benny Hili (Salitos), 515.
Bowlers of the Week
Ray Falzon Reale (Ramis), 621; Tiziana Carannante (Turu’s Knights), 571
Standings - Division I, Week 13
Okmalta.com-80, Fina-74, Ramis-70, Turu’s Knights-58, Royal Shock-56, The Clan-52, HSBC-50, Malta Int. Airport-34, Salitos-24, Gladiators-22
Standings - Division II, Week 13
Supreme-83, J Grima & Co-70, Blitzkrieg-56, Vintage-54, X S-53, BOV-52, Middlesea Insurance-50, Atlas-42, Spare Me Plz-38, One 4 All-22