HepO2 Acorn take all eight points from Turu’s Knights
The MSV Life National Leagues are back after their summer break at the Eden SuperBowl where after five weeks of competition, there’s a three-way split at the top of Division I. Okmalta.com, Fina and Ramis are tied on 32 points, Ramis having dropped two points in their win against The Clan, as okmalta.com and Fina both picked up all eight against Rogantino’s Restaurant and Spare Me Plz respectively, to draw level. Hepo2 Acorn claimed a good 8-0 victory against Turu’s Knights, while The match between MIA and Gladiators ended in a four-all draw.
Okmalta.com sit at the top of the standings, only due to their slightly higher total pinfall to date.
They took a 100% victory against Rogantino’s Restaurant this week, although the latter did come close to snatching a share of the points. After game one fell easily to the eventual winners with an 804-694 score line, game two was a lot closer, finishing 841-820 to give okmalta.com a four point lead.
The pace slowed in the last of the set, which also went to okmalta.com, 766-732 to round off the whitewash.
Rankin Camilleri (ojmalta.com), 637, male bowler of the week. Pierre Yves Galea (Rogantino’s Restaurant), 623.
Fina also took all eight points, although must have been thankful for a poor performance from opponents Spare Me Plz, as the defending champions were a little below par themselves on the night. Fina took the opener with little resistance, 660-764, before doubling their lead with a scrappy 706-723 game two win.
The third and final game wasn’t much prettier to watch, the 666-741 score line confirming the full-pointer for Fina. Danial Swift (Fina), 605. Stephanie Said (Spare Me Plz), 530.
Ramis had previously topped the Division I classifications by a two point margin, which they watched melt away as they claimed a 2-6 win over The Clan who are now fourth.
It was the latter who drew first blood, with a 711-669 opening victory, but Ramis were soon level with their own 691-745 game two win. Ramis then bagged the last of the series 684-788 to secure the match.
Ray Falzon Reale (Ramis), 594. Philip Gruppetta (The Clan), 543.
HepO2 Acorn produced what was the upset of the week as the veteran outfit beat youthful opponents, Turu’s Knights in an 8-0 thrashing. The winners played way above their team average to make their victory look easy, as they took the first game 788-666, and followed through with a better 813-722 game two win. A 795-746 win in the third gave HepO2 Acorn their fully deserved win.
Manwel Saliba (HepO2 Acorn), 607. Dean Micallef (Turu’s Knights), 555.
MIA missed out on a majority victory by a mere three pins in their clash with Gladiators in week five, forced to settle for a four-all draw instead.
They took the early lead with a 738-673 game one win, but then Gladiators fought back to win game two 616-696, to make it all square. MIA then won the tight third game 715-703, but their opponents were still able to force the draw thanks to their considerable game two deficit.
Steve Cassar (MIA), 555. James Gauci Borda (Gladiators), 503.
Bowlers of the Week
Rankin Camilleri (okmalta.com), 637; Stephanie Said (Spare Me Plz), 530
Div I standings Week 5
Okmalta.com-32, Fina-32, Ramis-32, The Clan-26, Turu’s Knights-22, HepO2 Acorn-20, Rogantino’s Restaurant-18, MIA-10, Gladiators-6, Spare Me Plz-2
Div II standings Week 5
Middlesea Insurance plc-30, Pin Busters-28, Bank of Valletta-24, Vintage-24, Supreme-24, St. James Hospital-18, Blitzkrieg-18, X S-14, One 4 All-12, Touch of Class-8