Cobo stroll to second spot

TOTAL COBO have finished runners up in the Carey Olsen Championship for a second year running. Needing six points to ensure the second spot behind the out-of-sight Clubhouse Optimists, they achieved their target when they bowled out a 10-man Mavericks side for 136 and then knocked off the runs with little fuss.

Mavericks, led by Justin Walker for the day, were missing key men such as Carl Le Tissier and Vince Kenny and called on a number of occasional players.

Cobo themselves were without top players Stuart Le Prevost, Jeremy Frith, Mark Culverwell and Robbie Moore. But their strength in depth was displayed when they pushed forward quick bowler Peter Le Hegarat, Blaine Queripel and Jamie Nussbaumber into prominent roles.

'The team they had out devalues the league,' said Cobo captain Peter Vidamour.

'We had a weakened team out but we still won at a canter. But saying that our young guys had a good go.

'Pete bowled well and next week for the first round of Channel Islands league we are going to have a pretty difficult time picking the team.'

The only Mavericks batsman to worry Vidamour was Jamie Gallienne coming in at six. The Bowl Strollers regular hit the ball very hard as he notched up 44 runs before Queripel bowled him.

The young fast bowler is improving all the time and returned figures of two for 16 from six overs.

Matt Oliver was the pick of the Cobo batsmen as he helped himself to the Mavericks bowling attack and saw his side home with 74 not out. He looked in good touch as he unleashed some devastating straight drives.

Young leg spinner Jonathan Wilkes-Green came in for some real tap from the opener, his four overs going for 39 runs.

The defeat cements Mavericks to the bottom of the table.

They had briefly headed Rovers in the five-team competition before last year's champions recorded a shock win over Opitmists last week.

Mavericks could have made the Channel Islands Club Championship with an unlikely win here, but now play in the inaugural Sid Guy Trophy final in Jersey on 20 August, where they are likely to meet St Ouen.

'This was a very difficult weekend for us for a number of reasons,' said regular Mavericks captain James Falla.

'It was unfortunate not to have a full side but we'll pick ourselves back up for the Sid Guy game and look to go out with a win.'