Week 13 of the Honda National League saw second-placed Fina Excel put on a high-scoring performance in an 8-0 win over an unlucky Vodka Cruiser side.
Fina First stay top after beating Ramis while Aercomms held on to third place after a four-all draw against mid-table side DUWPA.
It was a very frustrating whitewash for Vodka Cruiser, having rolled the second highest series of the week (2,387), bettered only by that of their opponents - Excel's 2,515.
Vodka Cruiser surely felt robbed of at least a two-point share, having lost 824-818 in game one which included a great 255 from Edward Caruana.
Fina certainly deserved the third game, rolling an excellent 873 against Cruiser's 775 to round off their big win. Caruana ended on a 709 while Excel's Melissa Anastasi was in a class of her own on 733.
Fina First took eight points at the expense of Ramis to retain their 12-point cushion at the top of the standings. It wasn't a classic Fina First performance as the 12-season champions won all three games - 737-726, 736-698 and 780-755.
Mizzi Organisation are one of the teams embroiled in the drop zone. Last week they went down 8-0 to DAB Beer. Mizzi Org. opened with a solid 781, but DAB took 838 to draw first blood. Mizzi dropped to a 745 against DAB's 805 in the second, and their game deteriorated further as they lost the third 701-733, confirming the full-point win for DAB Beer who are in fifth place.
Palatino took advantage of a very shoddy performance from Globalair Travel to give their survival bid a timely boost.
Luck was with Palatino all the way as both teams managed to struggle over the 700-barrier in the final game which also went to Palatino by the closest of margins - 721-720.
The other two games both ended in draws. In their clash with DUWPA, Aercomms claimed the first two games and looked set for victory. But a low 714 in the third against a high 818 from DUWPA gave the latter a 57-pin advantage on the series to force the draw.
The Playzone ladies continued to flirt with relegation after their draw with fourth-placed Maltacom KSSK.
There was not a lot between the teams in the opening two games but Maltacom then fought back in attempt to salvage something from the match, winning the third game to snatch the series points by just five pins (2,336-2,331).
Standings (week 13): Fina First 86, Fina Excel 74, Aercomms 60, Maltacom 56, DAB Beer 55, DUWPA 50, Ramis 49, Globalair 48, Mizzi Organisation 40, Playzone 40, Palatino 40, Vodka Cruiser 24.
Bowlers of the Week: Edward Caruana (709) Vodka Cruiser; Melissa Anastasi (733) Fina Excel.