Three-way battle for the top prize

THREE sides remained in the hunt for the £1,500 first-place prize entering the penultimate day of the week-long Guernsey Open Fours event at the Bowls Stadium. With the top six qualifiers having played their opening two matches in the decisive round robin, Goldridge de Beauvoir and Celtic Warriors were still unbeaten while Chancers, the defending champions, were lurking just behind with a win and a draw to their credit.

Alison Merrien's Goldridge de Beauvoir squad secured an impressive 33-9 win over Shy Talk, Celtic Warriors beat Vultures 26-15 and Chancers overcame Wight Warriors 25-18.

Goldridge de Beauvoir started well in their match with Shy Talk, but with Rick Brehaut in fine form in the early ends, scoring was limited. As the game progressed, Goldridge gained the upper hand and managed to win the last eight ends of the game without reply to run out easy winners.

Chancers enjoyed a good battle with Wight Warriors and very impressive drawing bowls from both sides kept the spectators enthralled.

Heads were constantly changing and at 10-5 up, Nick Donaldson killed the end when Wight Warriors held what looked to be a count of six and this proved to be a turning point, as Chancers forged ahead.

Peter Clayton's team kept to their task and two counts of four in the latter stages brought the visitors to within six playing the last end, but a single ensured a Chancers victory.

Meanwhile Celtic Warriors continued to impress and the junior internationals produced some excellent bowls to edge away from Craig Dorey's Vultures side to secure a 26-15 victory.

Celtic Warriors lie second in the table on shot difference from Goldridge de Beauvoir and look to be very much an in-form side.

In Group D, Davie Mahy's Scorpions edged out Michael Merritt's visiting Welsh Jacques @ Co 24-18 and Tony Yates' Midas won by the narrowest of margins against Terry Dowinton's Mix & Match with a 22-21 win.

In Group E, Good Guys from Bath, with Mike Sawyers taking the skip's role in place of Ian Francis, secured a good win by 21 shots to 13 against Vernon Findell's Wight Plus Won.