Fina’s Division One lead was slashed to four points in week 12 of the MSV Life National League at the SuperBowl, dropping points in their four-all draw against MIA, as rivals okmalta.com and Ramis both picked up 8-0 victories against Gladiators and Turu’s Knights respectively.
Royal Shock also picked up all eight against HepO2 Acorn, while St James Hospital came out on the better end of a 6-2 scoreline, against Bowlers on Strike.
Second-placed okmalta.com pulled off the first of three full-point victories, to the detriment of Gladiators, who are left languishing in the penultimate position.
The match was a whitewash in all respects, with the ironically named Gladiators putting up barely any fight as their opponents ran riot, the series progressing 744-827, 669-899 (game of the season to date) and 696-742.
okmalta.com’s 2,468 series was the best team effort of the night.
Defending champions Ramis also had an easy time of it, rolling the second highest set – 2,314 –against Turu’s Knights.
They opened their winning account with a 792-747 game one score, before doubling their advantage with a substantial 795-697 game two win.
It may have been all over bar the shouting as game three began, but Ramis saw their game slip to a low 727. However, they were still gifted the points by the Knights, and their weak 664 effort.
Fina’s earlier lead has now been halved as they fumbled to a 4-4 draw against an improving MIA outfit.
Fina were definitely out of sorts, starting off by handing an easy two-point lead to their opponents in a 685-714 opening game.
They did come back strongly in game two though, easily taking game two 813-742 to go level on points and carry an advantage of 42-pins into game three.
They would be very glad of those 42 pins, as the last of the set went 723-756 to MIA, meaning Fina took the series to force the draw (2,221-2,212).
Bowlers of the Week: Mauro Anastasi (okmalta.com, 675); Liliana Said (Bowlers on Strike, 524).
Standings: Fina 78, okmalta.com 74, Ramis 72, Royal Shock 68, HepO2 50, Turu’s Knights 42, Bowlers on Strike 34, MIA 20, Gladiators 20, St James Hospital 18.