High-flyers okmalta.com suffered their first defeat of the season after going down to rivals Fina, more than two thirds into their national league campaign – on week 13 – 6-2.
Ramis capitalised with an 8-0 win against Blitzkrieg to narrow the gap on top spot and there was also a full-points win for Royal Shock over Pin Strikers.
As cruel irony would have it, it would be okmalta.com’s arch-rivals Fina who would deliver their first upset in the current campaign, the leaders having registered an im-pressive 11 wins and a draw in their first 12 matches.
Fina played a consistent and high-scoring match, coming out with all guns blazing for an 852-733 opening win. They followed up with an 853 in game two but that was beaten by an excellent 872 for okmalta.com to draw level.
Game three was an absolute thriller, literally going down to the final ball for an 835-833 Fina win to secure the set, and round up the top series of the week (2,540).
okmalta.com’s loss gave Ramis an opportunity to relaunch their title bid and they did just that thanks to their 8- 0 pummelling of relegation-troubled Blitzkrieg.
Ramis won the opener 778-756, before doubling their lead with a better 838-756 win in game two.
Game three was closer but Ramis clinched it 785-764 to claimmaximum spoils and go within eight points of the leaders.
Royal Shock clinched all eight in their match against bottom side Pin Strikers who were very disappointed not to have taken something from the early games.
They lost the first of the series 795-809, and there were only two pins between them in game two, which also went to Royal Shock, 726-728. The last of the set then went 689-751 to Royal Shock.
XS rallied from their early setback, a 736-650 opening loss against Supreme, to eventually win the encounter 6-2.
They claimed game two 722-779 to almost wipe out their game-one disadvantage, and then took the last of the set 675-722 to wrap up the series by 18 pins (2,151-2,133).
It was a very similar pattern in the clash between Turu’s Knights and MIA with the latter losing out 780-738 in game one, but then bouncing straight back for a 710-796 equaliser in game two.
MIA took the final game 718-741 for the match (2,275-2,208).
Bowlers of the week
Neil Sullivan (okmalta.com, 667); Sue Abela (Fina, 619).
Division One standings
okmalta.com 88; Ramis 80; Fina 78; XS 56; Turu’s Knights 53; Royal Shock 46; Supreme 38; MIA 38; Blitzkrieg 24; Pin Strikers 19.