L'Ancresse shine through the heavy rain

EVEN without the flu-ridden Andy Eggo, still arguably their best performer in matchplay, L'Ancresse eased into the CI final of the Hampshire Seven-a-side at the expense of the Royal Guernsey. The 5-2 scoreline was as convincing as it looks and there can be little doubt that Mike Hamon's L'Ancresse team are now the dominant force in Guernsey club golf, rain or shine.

Yesterday morning it was most definitely rain, much of it heavy.

The De la Rue Shield clash and then the Alexander Forbes CI Golf League weekend can't come quickly enough for team captain Hamon, who won the scratch prize in Saturday's club Stableford but still chose to leave himself out and give Tim Carter a chance.

A delighted Hamon said he based his selection on last week's scores.

'At the end of the day, we've got 11 players to choose from,' and, as Hamon would happily admit, L'Ancresse have never been blessed with so many riches.

Changes are guaranteed for the final, said the non-playing captain.

'I'm just picking seven good matchplay people at the end of the day,' he said.

L'Ancresse had been in control right from the early stages and never seemed in danger of losing.

Matchplay team golf is often a topsy-turvy business, but not on this occasion.

The only match that really turned on its early head was tie number two in which the island's top two players on the basis of the seeding for this week's Deutshce Bank Island Championships - Danny Bisson and Bobby Eggo - went head to head not only for an important point but also to score an important psychological one if they were to meet in next Sunday's 36 holes final.

The old master, Eggo, was two down after seven but ultimately won 4 and 2 after a winning run of five holes from the eighth.

Having reached the turn level, Eggo moved ahead at the 10th and then doubled it with a superb approach to set up a birdie three at the 11th.

The island champion launched a seven-iron from the scrub just left of the fairway and the ball came to rest just five feet away from the flag at the front of the green.

Bisson, hoping to get the chance to roll in a short putt for a halve in fours, was left disappointed as Eggo sank his.

Two up then immediately became three at the short 12th.

Neither man found the green off the tee but while Bisson chipped weakly, Eggo all but holed his from lush grass in the hollow above the putting surface.

Bisson's par putt from 15ft lipped out and his goose was all but cooked.

Eggo missed a short putt for another winning birdie at the 13th but the end came at the 16th when he holed his birdie putt from 12ft.

It proved to be the maroons' solitary victory.

At the top of the list, Jamie Blondel sank a 12ft downhill putt to secure a 3 and 2 win over Julian Woodhard on the 16th.

By then, Garry McFarlane had despatched David Rowlinson 5 and 4 and before very long Ian Thomas had provided their third win, having hammered Nigel Vaudin 6 and 5.

Nothing was going right for the Royal and when Micky Marley, already three down, lost his ball down the right on the 16th, he shook hands with Steve Mahy and L'Ancresse were through to a rare CI final for them.

The two remaining matches ended up all-square.

Carter was three down with four to play against Pat McKeary, but won the last with a par to grab a share of the spoils and with knowledge of the match result and the heavy rain showing no sign of abating, backmarkers Campbell Hardie and John Le Lievre shook hands on a half walking down the 15th.