HEPO2 Acorn send leaders okmalta.com reeling

Week 11 of the MSV Life National League brought about surprises, dropped points and high scores from unlikely quarters, not least of all thanks to a massive 8-0 victory for HEPO2 Acorn against big guns and league leaders, okmalta.com.

That leaves okmalta.com with a six point cushion at the top on 64 ahead of Ramis, who picked up six against Turu’s Knights this week, while Fina are back in third on 56 points after a positive 2-6 result against MIA. In joint third we have Rogantino’s Restaurant, who pulled off a useful 8-0 win against bottom side, Gladiators.

Elsewhere there was a 6-2 win over The Clan for Spare Me Plz whose sole aim is survival, in this their debut season in the top flight.

Seventh place HEPO2 Acorn pulled of a giant killing coup in week eleven, rolling an excellent 2414 team series, and grabbing all eight points in a fantastic win against league leaders, okmalta.com. The stunning result rolled off with a sound 744-635 game one victory for HEPO2 Acorn, and they were soon 4-0 ahead with an excellent 825-751 game two win, thanks not least of all to star man Sammy Borg who had a great 265, flowing up on his opening 224 effort.

The last of the set was another pinfest, HEPO2 Acorn taking it 845778 to complete the rout. Borg rolled a 213 to complete the individual series of the week on 765 (726 scratch) to be male bowler of the week. Rankin Camilleri (okmalta.com), 619.

It was the turn of Rogantino’s Restaurants to bag the easy points this week, as they claimed an easy full-point victory over relegation favourites, Gladiators. Rogantino’s won the first of the set 805-774, and then doubled up with a 792-765 win in the second.

The winning foursome didn’t have to try too hard to make it 8-0 after poor game three, which went 701659 in their favour. The win puts Rogantino’s on joint third with Fina, thanks to a couple with some poor results for the latter recently. Joe Cassar (Rogantino’s), 638. Pamela Demanuele (Gladiators), 559, female bowler of the week.

Second placed Ramis managed to tighten the gap on okmalta.com to six points thanks to a 6-2 win against Turu’s Knights this week, however it was the latter side who managed to take the early advantage with a close 722-739 opening victory.

Game two was better for both, especially Ramis who managed to regain parity with an 801-768 equaliser. That meant that Ramis carried a modest advantage into the last game, and they won that 745696 for the 6-2 victory. Mark Spiteri (Ramis), 580. Dean Micallef (Turu’s Knights), 611.

Fina reversed their fortune with a 2-6 win against MIA, after coming into the clash on the back of two consecutive 6-2 defeats. Game one was a tight affair, with MIA just edging it with a 727-712 victory. The Fina four then rocketed right back with a crushing 693-892 game two win.

That put Fina well ahead on the series, and then a game three win of 688-842 turned what was a shaky start, into a good win (2108-842). Justin Caruana Scicluna (Fina), 685. Steve Cassar (MIA), 531.

It was 6-2 once again in the last match of the week, that between Spare Me Plz and The Clan wherein Spare Me Plz emerged the eventual victors.

They clinched the opener 742-696, but then their opponents rallied to claim game two, 718-787 for make it two all.

Spare Me Plz were equal to the challenge, and managed a good 785-746 game three win to make sure of the lion’s share of the spoils (Series: 2245-2229). Nathan Brimmer (Spare Me Plz), 543. Giancarlo Tolu (The Clan), 536.

Bowlers of the Week

Sammy Borg (HEPO2 Acorn), 726; Pam Demanuele (Gladiators), 604

MSV Life Div. I standings

Okmalta.com-64, Ramis-58, Fina56, Rogantino’s Restaurant-56, The Clan-48, Turu’s Knights-42, HepO2 Acorn-38, Spare Me Plz-36, MIA22, Gladiators-20

MSV Life Div. II standings

Bank of Valletta-55, Blitzkrieg-53, Supreme-52, Pin Busters-52, Vintage-50, Middlesea Insurance plc-48, X S-48, St. James Hospital-38, Touch of Class-24, One 4 All-20.