CI U14s lose just once at festival

FOUR Guernsey boys were part of the Channel Islands team that suffered just one defeat from five matches at the Jersey Under-14 festival. The combined side, which included Sarnians James Mullen, Adam Robin, Chris Whitworth and Richard Angliss, finished with a very creditable record of two wins and two draws over the week-long event.

The CI opened with a comfortable victory over a Jersey Select side even though a ferry delay meant that the Guernsey boys did not get to bat until late on in the first innings. But Whitworth and Angliss both contributed down the order as their side made 204 before bowling the opposition out for just 62.

The following day against Winchester, the CI were in trouble at five for three chasing the opposition's 193.

They managed to recover through Jersey's Gibbs and Kay and Mullen was in at the end to see out the draw.

But they returned to winning ways in the next match against the Isle of Wight and went to the top of the festival table.

The CI were in trouble at 73 for six but Robin scored a vital 37 not out at number eight to steer the side to 142 for eight.

He also claimed two wickets later on as the Isle of Wight were dismissed for 108.

The unbeaten record was to vanish the next day, however, as Huntingdon claimed a two wicket victory.

The CI made 176 with Angliss and Mullen making useful contributions at the top of the order before Gibbs and Chipperfield weight in with 41 and 25 respectively.

But against the side that would win the overall festival, the target was not enough and the home team did not help themselves by conceding 36 extras.

The final game against North Hampshire took on a similar pattern with the CI bowling 46 extras as the visitors reached 187.

The islanders did manage to hold on for a draw on this occasion, though.