Islanders prove they are still very difficult to beat

A TERRIFIC second day of action at the Guernsey Bowls Stadium saw Islanders stay top of the league with two wins. Firstly, they overcame Shy Talk 29-8 and then went on to beat Lucy's Lads (who were playing without Lucy Beere) by 25 shots to six.

Local side Chancers had a day to remember as they began with a dream win by 27 shots to nine against Celtic Warriors.

In the evening session, Chancers were leading the Belfast/Cardiff Alcopops by nine with four ends to go.

Alcopops scored two singles and a double but still needed five to draw on the last end.

Inspired bowls by John Hagan, Peter Axon and Steve Edwards set the head up and despite a good Nick Donaldson drive, a five was still on as Michael Mernitt went to play his last bowl.

He had to negotiate two short Dan de la Mare bowls and touch the jack six inches and he duly played a masterful shot to draw the match 20-all.

Celtic Warriors made amends in the evening with a 22-12 win over Len Bretel's Head Hunters.

Shy Talk managed a 21-12 over John Martel's Scorpions. The morning session had seen the latter beat Pistol Knights in a marathon session by 19 shots to 12 and Lucy's Lads managed their first win by 26 shots to six over Head Hunters.

The best match of the following day was undoubtedly the Celtic Warriors v. Islanders clash, which finished in an honourable draw.

The sides were evenly matched throughout the game with Graham Laing and Ryan Mountstephen excelling at three and skip for the Warriors, while Ali Merrien also produced her fair share of telling bowls.

Islanders needed one on the last end to win and held four before Mountstephen killed the end with a devastatingly powerful drive.

On the reply, inch perfect bowls from both sides left it a close thing, merely an inch from the jack Mountstephen was having none of a possible measure and trailed the jack for three forcing Merrien to drive with her last bowl, removing all the Warriors' counting bowls and leaving her side with one shot for a draw.

Lucy Beere was back in action and guided her side to a 19-15 win over Scorpions.

Shy Talk bossed the early ends of their game with Pistol Knights to lead 23-4 but a storming comeback from Keith de la Mare's side left them needing five for a draw, only to see Rick Brehaut's side take two to win 25-18.

Alcopops led Head Hunters by one playing the last end and came out with four to win 18-13 as they remain unbeaten to date.