Two time champions okmalta.com are back on top after week five of the MSV Life National League, having clinched the only full point win of the week against strugglers Supreme.

They replace Turu’s Knights who are second after losing 6-2 to St. James Hospital, while Fina beat The Clan by a similar margin to improve to third place. Ramis slipped to fourth after finishing on the wrong end of a 2-6 score line against Rogantino’s, while the match between MIA and J Grima & Co ended in a four all draw.

Okmalta.com are back in familiar territory, top of the league after a 0-8 win against Supreme in week five. There weren’t a lot hi big scores on the SuperBowl lanes this week, but okmalta.com marked the best card of the week with their 2,327 total, as the three-set progressed: 685-788, 623-739, 684-800.

Supreme’s inability to present any serious opposition meant the eight points on offer were easy pickings for the winners and defending champions. Mauro Anastasi (okmalta.com), 644, male bowler of the week. Jackie Azzopardi (Supreme), 511.

Week four leaders Turu’s Knights lost out 6-2 this week, marking the first match victory of the new season for opponents, St. James Hospital. It was the eventual losers who claimed the early advantage, the Knights taking the opener 699-746 to go two up.

Turu’s then handed the second game to St. James’ on a plate, losing it 651-623 in a reversal of fortunes to make it two all. Buoyed by their game two win, St. James Hospital then produced their game of the night, winning the decider 792-742, to clinch the match points with a 31 pin advantage on the series (2,142-2,111). Ernest Agius (St. James Hospital), 548. Ryan Grech (Turu’s Knights), 571.

Fina took two of their three game series to get a hold on their match against The Clan, to finish a eventual 2-6 victors.

Fina were first on the scoreboard after a scrappy 680-708 opening win, but The Clan came right back with a 731-687 game two win to go level on two all.

Fina seemed to finally find the pace of old as game three rolled off, and they made the most of it to easily win it 664-796, taking the series by a 116 pins margin (2,075-2,191). Mark Muscat (Fina), 592. Nick Mangion (The Clan), 526.

Rogantino’s remain in sixth place, in spite of overcoming Ramis 2-6 in week five. The latter had to endure a rather up-and-down series, starting with a good 791-753 win in the first of the set, but then dropping to a low 663-795 game two defeat to hand a series advantage to Rogantino’s, going into the all important final game.

Game three could literally not have been closer, as Rogantino’s cinched it by just one solitary pin, 723-724 for the match (2,177-2,722). Malcolm Pace (Rogantino’s), 569. Ray Falzon Reale (Ramis), 577.

J Grima & Co. drew first blood in what would end up a 4-4 draw with MIA, as they took the close opening game, 659-670.

MIA rallied well to draw level with a 759-676 game two win, and they were to be thankful of that easy win as it meant they would hold on to the series points, in spite of J Grima & Co. claiming the third game 691-755.

MIA managed to force the draw with a mere eight pin advantage on the series (2,109-2,101). Sammy Borg (J Grima & Co.), 557. Charles Farrugia (MIA), 506.

Bowlers of the Week

Mauro Anastasi (okmalta.com), 644; Sue Abela (Fina), 545

Division I standings

Okmalta.com-34, Turu’s Knights-30, Fina-28, Ramis-26, J Grima & Co-24, Rogantino’s-20, The Clan-15, St. James Hospital-12, Supreme-6, M.I.A.-5

Division II standings

Spare Me Plz-45, Gladiators-36, X S-28, Blitzkrieg-24, Bank of Valletta-22, Middlesea Insurance-22, 4 Play-22, Vintage-20, Blasters-18, Kiwis-3