Warr gets out of bed to play hero

DAVID WARR was looking forward to a lazy Sunday morning when, at 8.45 yesterday, just 15min. before the start of the domestic final of the Hampshire 'Sevens' he got a phone call. Having hit 50 practice balls, Bobby Eggo, the Royal Guernsey's top player, had come to the conclusion his dodgy back was not up to a team match and Warr got the SOS call.

Four hours later Warr, the Royal's acting captain, was staring at a 3ft putt for par on the last with rain lashing into his face.

The island stalwart might not be near his best of late, but the ball disappeared without a hint of a miss, and the maroons had scraped past the gallant Junior Club by four-and-a-half points to two-and-a-half.

'I'm getting too old for that,' laughed Warr, a couple of minutes later, having completed a dash to the protection of the locker room.

In clinching a one up victory over the fast-improving Shaun Mills, Warr, who is so far off his game that he opted not to play in this week's island championships, had summoned all his huge experience, and still impressive talent to edge out the youngster.

'It's very gratifying not to let the boys down,' said Warr, who joked he must have been way down the list of Eggo's last-minute options.

But he won and admitted he had visions of going down the 19th when he stood over a 30ft putt on the last with the objective being to get down in two and hope his opponent would miss his own birdie putt.

Warr's putting has been a problem, too, and three-putting from 25ft on the first was not his idea of a decent start.

Yet, he found himself two up after six before three wins on the bounce took Mills one up at the turn.

It was nip and tuck thereafter, but Warr held firm.

'He's a tidy player and a nice lad . . . a gentlemen to play with,' said Warr of his defeated opponent.

But no player on either side was more impressive than Mick Marley who dismissed Wayne Moore 7 and 5, having been seven up playing the 11th.

Jack Mitchell and Craig Shorto impressed for the juniors, the former taking out Nigel Vaudin 5 and 3 and Shorto beating the island champion, David Rowlinson, on the last.

Mitchell, the CI junior champion, has developed into an impressive performer and Vaudin could not hold him in the strong breeze.

Rowlinson gave himself hope by chipping in for an eagle two at the 16th and reducing the deficit to one, but Shorto held on.

Other results: Campbell Hardie beat Stuart Hamon 3 and 2; David Nicolle beat Tom Le Huray 4 and 2; John Le Lievre halved with Emile Thompson.