It's D-Day

IT IS going to be winner takes all in the Channel Islands Club Championship's group A matches this afternoon. With each of the four teams in the group having won one and lost one, whomever triumphs in the games between Total Cobo and C&W Rovers, and Jersey's Old Victorians and Caesareans will go through to the semi-finals. That means one team from each island in the group will be in the last four of the competition.

Cobo will be at full strength when they take on Rovers at the College Field (1pm start).

Last year's CI champions' batting will be based, as usual, around their island batsmen Stuart Le Prevost, Jeremy Frith and Matt Oliver, who has been in good touch of late.

Rovers, on the other hand, appear to be struggling with Matt Jeffery and Rob Turville both carrying injuries and with Richard Headington and Stuart Bisson both unavailable.

Reports from Jersey suggest both Old Victorians and Caesareans will field their strongest teams possible for their clash.

The Jersey Evening Post pundit Mark Saralis believes it is a close one to call, but sees Old Victorians edging it after winning the recent league encounter between the two sides.

'I think OVs may beat Caesareans, but it could be close,' he said.

'I think both teams are full strength so it should be a good game. It could go either way but I'm relying on league form to provide the best guide and am tipping Old Victorians to scrape through to the next round.'

Group B is more clear-cut as top-of-the-table Clubhouse Optimists need just three bonus points to qualify and eight points to finish top. They are favourites to take the honours against a depleted PKF Wanderers side at the KGV.

Dave Piesing' team is missing seven players from their ranks: Keith Le Cheminant, Spencer Noyon, Steve Birkett, Gary Tapp, Tim Corfield, James and Jonny Warr.

'It's going to be tough,' said Piesing.

'We're missing a lot of players and they are mainly bowlers. I think we'd been all right if it wasn't for the injuries.

'Rained off games on both islands would be a tremendous result for us.'

The forecast for the weekend is not great and if all the games were cancelled, second-placed Wanderers would join Optimists in the semis.

Otherwise, they need 36 points in their match, which would require victory over a very strong Optimists team. That is unlikely.

Sporting Club and Romerils' match in Jersey is an interesting one to call.

SCF have had a mixed season after seeing island all-rounder Tony Carlyon leave them for Caesareans during the winter.

Romerils, on the other hand, will be without their dangerman Ryan Driver and that could possibly tip the balance in their opponent's favour.