Jenner back for Jersey

WITH one Guernsey tormentor gone, so another returns. Ward Jenner will on Saturday play his first inter-insular for four years, having cemented his place in the Jersey side with his excellent unbeaten century when making his over-40s debut on Sunday.

However, while Sarnians may be understandably apprehensive about facing their one-time captain after what he has done to them in the past, there will be a sigh of relief that Steve Carlyon has not been talked out of his representative retirement.

Chris Jones is another regular missing - he will be at a wedding - and so Jersey have had some adjustments to make from last year's side.

The selectors have made five changes in total, with Jonny Gough, Tom Minty and former first-class player Ryan Driver all winning their first cap.

Matt Hague also returns having been unavailable for Grainville 12 months ago and will lead the side.

He will open the batting alongside the talented left-hander, Peter Gough, twin brother of Jonny.

Fourteen players had been in the running last week but Mark Saralis had to withdraw after picking up an injury in Romerils' defeat by Wanderers at the weekend. Bobby Minty has been retained as 12th man while the one dropped was Andy Dewhurst.

Dave Gorman, JCB chairman of selectors, said: 'It was extremely difficult arriving at the final decision and Andy has been very unlucky to have been left out.

'He made a century in the recent two-day game for JICC against GICC and he was man of the match in the B-team win against Guernsey two weeks ago.

'We felt it was the right thing to do. He would have been in the side if he batted in the top three but we feel we have better players suited to playing down the order.'

Dewhurst made his debut last season and has enormous potential for the future.

Island champions Old Victorians have four players in the XI, there are two each from former champions Sporting Club, Romerils and Caesareans together with one from St Ouen.

Jenner is expected to come in at the fall of the first wicket and should be followed by Driver.

The ever-dangerous Tony Carlyon, last year's skipper Meeku Patidar and Jonny Gough complete a very capable middle order.

Minty, Paul Horton and Peter Blackburn make up the seam attack and are no mugs with the bat either.

Wicketkeeper, as always, is the outstanding Simon Short.