Swift exit for Jersey following double win

JERSEY put their travel worries behind them to win a Le Quesne trophy inter-insular double on Saturday. Guernsey's women have dominated in recent years with four wins in five years before surrendering the trophy at the Corbet Field.

The Sarnian men have often come out second best in recent times, but they came within 11 shots of holding the Caesareans at Delancey Park.

Then, with little time for a relaxing chat and chewing the cud with the opposition over a beer or cup of tea, the Jersey sides were heading to the harbour to catch the slow boat back home in the absence of the usual fast ferry.

It was a mixed day for the sport's pre-eminent bowls family, the Merriens.

For once, Alison struggled to find her best form and slipped to an 18-9 defeat at the hands of Pam de Gruchy's four.

But at least husband Ian had plenty to smile about.

His family four, skipped by Paul, romped to a 32-9 win over Allan Quemard's quartet.

But, along with Gary Pitschou's four which won 23-19, that was the sum of the Guernsey-men's success.

The remaining four rinks went the way of the Jerseymen and, crucially, on rink five Dave Trebert's four crashed to a 29-5 defeat.

Trebert's squad conceded two early fives and then, on the 18th and final end, shipped another four.

Ricky Brehaut's four lost by just one in a tight game and Ralph Deakin's team went down by only five.

Overall, Jersey were always in charge as Ian Merrien was happy to admit.

'We were always chasing a bit, between 10 and 20 down.

'Towards the end we got back to eight down and a few of us had a couple of ends to play, which is nothing really.

'This has been the closest for a while.'

At the Corbet Field, the local women led by six after five ends and two at 10.

But by 15 the visitors were 14 adrift and there was no way back.

The final margin was 16.

The Angela Bartie and Mavis Richards led fours emerged comfortable winners, but Guernsey's premier woman had a bad day at the office, losing 9-18.

'We kept it close at the start, but they started pulling away,' said Alison Merrien.

'Their number three played very well; she did the damage.'