The penultimate round of the 18-week Middlesea League produced matching majority wins for both okmalta.com and Fina, meaning they are still battling it out for second place.

okmalta.com beat Salitos to confirm the latter's relegation, while Fina got the better of Globalair. Royal Shock took all eight from PharmaVet, Turu's Knights claimed a 5-3 win over HSBC while new champions Ramis pulled further out of reach with a full-point win over last-placed Calamatta Cuschieri Co.

The only issue that remains in Division One is who will claim the second place between okmalta.com and Fina, although the former have a four-point advantage to keep the latter in third place for now.

Both teams registered 6-2 wins in week 17. okmalta.com were two up with a 770-723 game one win, but it was two-all after the second which was won by Salitos, 705-722. A 762-687 deciding win for okmalta.com sealed their opponents' relegation fate.

Against Fina, Globalair took the early advantage by easily winning the first of the series 804-704. Fina were more than equal to the challenge, however, responding with a great 747-825 equaliser in the second.

Fina rounded off with a 714-750 win for the series points to stay in touch with okmalta.com above them.

Ramis had no trouble in extending their already insurmountable lead, as they thrashed lowly Calamatta Cuschieri Co. 8-0.

The eventual losers put up a fight in game one, losing it 745-789, but then both teams were low in game two which went 685-716 to the champs.

A final 650-723 Ramis win completed the whitewash.

Bowlers of the week: Joe Cassar (Royal Shock, 637); Sue Abela (Fina, 621).

Standings: Ramis 110, okmalta.com 84, Fina 80, Globalair 72, HSBC 69, Royal Shock 68, Turu's Knights 65, PharmaVet 56, Salitos 42, Calamatta Cuschieri Co. 34.