Browning back to lift 'vets' squad

DAWN BROWNING, one of netball's most deadly shooters of modern times, is back and raring to go. Browning missed all of last season through injury but as a new campaign opened at Beau Sejour, the former island shooter was back in the circle for the Nerine Trust C side alongside a host of fellow veterans.

She showed she has not lost her touch, the veterans winning a close game 43-39.

'It really gave me a buzz,' admitted Browning.

'I haven't lost my competitive edge, but I now accept my limitations.'

One of those is coping with a dodgy knee.

'I need a knee replacement but they won't do it just yet,' said the shooter who was leading the Guernsey line as recently as two years ago.

'I'm tentatively feeling the ground.

'The girls have to work around me. But just as long as they give me the ball I'll try to get in the hole.'

Browning has two other former island stars as team-mates.

Denise Bourgaize plays alongside her as goal attack and at the other of the court, Lisa Davey is trying to stop the flow of goals.

The rest of the team comprises Tracie Hunter, Kathy Seabrook, Yvonne Travis and the only non-veteran, talented junior Hayley Bougourd.

Meanwhile, the defending champions, Nerine Trust A, started the season where they left off, beating Barclays Masters 51-11.

Elsewhere in the top division of the Condor Ferries Leagues, TCCI opened with a 34-12 win over MPR Sarnians Two who were also resoundingly beaten by their first team.

The Sarnians' firsts romped to a 55-19 win.

In the other Division One game newly-promoted P & J Conservatories One edged out Nerine Trust D 33-31.

P & J were helped by the fact that their opponents lined up for a while a player short.

But once at full strength Nerine came back into it and duly ran their opponents close in a match which saw plenty of accurate shooting, good defence and excellent centre court play.

In Division Two, Heritage One beat Nerine Trust G 43-16.

Young Elka de Carteret of G won the player-of-the-match nomination and, 24 hours later, picked up another as the G side lost to Nerine Trust F 38-24.

Not to be outdone, Elka's mother Lyn, was voted star player for Autumn Gold in their 55-12 Division Three win over Nerine Trust K.

Back in Division Two, newly-promoted JT Electrics gained a 27-27 draw against the newly-formed P & J Conservatories second team.

In Division Three, Guernsey Electrics started life back in the bottom section, with a 28-20 victory over Nerine Trust J.

Another new side, HSBC, opened with a 32-19 win over Nerine Trust H, while in a real thriller, Heritage Two edged past their third team 33-32.

n?A FEATURE of Monday evenings on the Beau Sejour outdoor courts this winter will be a new junior league.

Eighty-four youngsters turned up for a 'play day' on Sunday ahead of the new competition which starts next week.

The league will be split into two sections.

Eight teams will contest the Year 7 age-group and seven the combined Years 5 and 6 competition.