Dorey's singles win a highlight
GUERNSEY'S young trio of talented bowlers - Daniel de la Mare, Craig Dorey and Ian Merrien - had little to show for their first day in the English Bowling Association's Centenary Test Match series at Torquay yesterday.
GUERNSEY'S young trio of talented bowlers - Daniel de la Mare, Craig Dorey and Ian Merrien - had little to show for their first day in the English Bowling Association's Centenary Test Match series at Torquay yesterday. Although they competed with their usual gusto, only Dorey collected points for his very satisfying 21-19 singles win over Canada's Ian Jones, son of the well-known international bowler, Ron Jones.
Craig, 20, had partnered 17-year-old de la Mare to a 24-17 defeat in the pairs yesterday morning, but there were signs that the Channel Islanders were settling down when, with Merrien at skip, they almost pulled off a win in the triples.
In an exciting finish, it was Canada's John Devonshire, Mark Sandford and Dave Anderson who crossed the line at 16-14, leaving the Channel Islands' hopes hanging on the evening singles session.
At first, it looked as if Dorey was destined for a defeat at the hands of Jones, who solidly built up a lead of 16-10 after 14 ends.
Back came Dorey with a devastating scoring spree of 2-3-3-1-1-1, during which time he dropped only a double and a single on the 17th and 21st ends, before he got home on the 22nd.
On other rinks, Merrien suffered a 21-9 defeat at the hands of Devonshire, while de la Mare scored 12 shots against Anderson, as the Channel Islands lost 14-8 to Canada.
The bowls circus moves on today to Plymouth, where Sir Francis Drake kept the Spaniards waiting in 1588, and, tomorrow, in Central Park, the six-man Channel Islands team face the host country, who scraped home against Ireland.
On Sunday, the Channel Islands take on New Zealand at Royal Leamington Spa and they complete their programme at Gateshead on Tuesday, when they meet Ireland.
