Gentleman Gary is shocked by Savident

GARY PITSCHOU has sensationally been knocked out of the island men's championship. The defending Elliott Singles champion met a focused Geoff Savident in the semi-finals on the Delancey Park green. The taxi driver was as surprised as anyone when he sent the champion packing.

'I was shocked,' said Savident. 'It was a bit of a turn-up. We've never actually met in a semi-final before.

'I went in determined to do well. Gary is the top bowler in the island but I knew that my game would improve when I played him.

'He took it very well. He's a gentleman on the green and off it.'

The tight green was to Savident's liking as he prefers to bowl a straight wood whereas Pitschou's game is more suited to a wider playing area.

Savident took advantage of this to take an early 8-0 lead. The 50-year-old then maintained the pressure to win 21-13 in 17 ends.

Savident will meet Dave Trebert in the final a week tomorrow at his home green, Beau Sejour.

Trebert, a member of the European team that faced Asia in London last month, beat Craig Dorey 21-14 in his semi and he goes into the final as favourite.

'I'll give the final my best shot,' said underdog Savident. 'I won't sit back and take a hammering on my home patch.'

Pitschou will get his chance to avenge his defeat by Savident when he faces him in the final of the Press Singles. Savident booked his place by beating Don Batiste 21-11 and he is looking forward to the encounter with a certain anticipation.

'That's going to be an interesting one,' he said.

The De Putron Singles final for the island women's crown will be contested by Anne Simon and Lyn Small.

Simon was soon in her stride as she opened up a 15-3 lead over Wilma Le Feuvre after eight ends and the game finished 21-9 in 14.

Small, on the other hand, had an epic 28-end battle with Jackie Nicolle which was 18-all before the former collected two singles and then a double for victory.

In the other island championships semi-finals, Matt Le Ber overcame his pairs partner, Dan de la Mare, 21-10 in the Bell Under-25 Singles and will now face Dorey, who overcame Garry Collins by the same scoreline.

Le Ber was 13-3 up when de la Mare came back with six shots over four ends, but it was not enough.

The two combined in the Travers Pairs to defeat Stan Simon and Roy Mechem comfortably 31-14. The competition also saw Pitschou and Dave Lucas take the honours over Martin Dorey and Bernie Simon.

In the Tostevin Triples, the Owls team of Derek Wakeham and son Paul and Sam Allen took an early lead of 16-2 over the Raiders team of John Martel, Paul Sargeant and Charlie Browning.

Raiders bounced back with 10 shots over four ends, but it wasn't enough as Owls finished the match with six shots over the last four.

Owls face Locals in the final after they took care of Geomarine in the other semi, 22-13.

In the women's Woodhard Triples, Angie Bartie's team were level with Jackie Nicolle's outfit at 12-all, but Nicolle and her partners, Le Feuvre and Pauline Leadbeater, won the last five ends to take the honours.

They will face Alison Merrien's team in the final after they came through against Jan Cleal's gang.

The women's Bookman Pairs semi-finals were both one-sided affairs as Sally Paul and Eunice Trebert easily defeated Cleal and Carol Besnard and Pat Le Cheminant with Mavis Tardif had no worries overcoming Gwen de la Mare and Sally Tranter.

Ramblers and Brats will face each other in the final of the Sandeman Fours after they won their semi-finals against Optimists and Geomarine respectively.

In the Friends Fours final, Simon's team will take on Ali Merrien's after both quartets came through their semi-finals unscathed.