Having lost out to Fina in the previous two Division One campaigns, okmalta.com were recently confirmed as the new MSV Life League champions following play from the 17th and penultimate week of the latest season.

Their impressive 8-0 win over Pin Strikers, combined with a 6-2 win for Fina against Blitzkrieg, meant that the outgoing champions were left ten points behind in second place in the table with only eight points to be had from the final week fixtures.

Ramis stumbled to a 6-2 defeat at the hands of MIA to stay third, while elsewhere there was a 6-2 victory for Royal Shock over Supreme and a similar win for Turu’s Knights over XS.

Okmalta.com got off to a flyer against the already relegated Pin Strikers, with an 814-670 opening win, and then went four ahead with a great 799-585 win in the second.

They then finished off the rout with a huge 851-652 game three win to easily take all eight points, complete the highest series of the night (2,464) and, more importantly, clinch the MSV Life League title.

Fina needed all eight points from their match in order to keep in touch with their rivals, but were stunned by a 791-821 defeat at the hands of Blitzkrieg in their opening game.

They managed to cancel that out with a 792-630 score in favour in game two to draw level.

Fina also won the last game of the series 868-811 for a 6-2 win, but were already all too aware of what was going on in the okmalta. com match, played just a pair of lanes away, and so were resigned to second place.

The loss means that although Blitzkrieg are eight points adrift of safety, with eight points still up for grabs, their inferior pinfall average means that they are technically relegated.

Bowlers of the week
Mark Muscat (Fina, 673); Tiziana Carannante (Turu’s Knights, 683).

Standings
okmalta.com 116, Fina 106, Ramis 90, Turu’s Knights 67, Royal Shock 64, XS 64, MIA 58, Supreme 48, Blitzkrieg 40, Pin Strikers 27.