Perfect start for Bisson

STUART BISSON could hardly have asked for a better start to his tenure as C&W Rovers captain. The island squad member took over the reins from Aaron Scoones, who stood down after last week's evening league defeat to Cobo, and presided over a 24-run victory over PKF Wanderers in his first game in charge at the KGV on Saturday.

He mainly had centurion Richard Headington to thank - the former Guernsey captain notched up 101 before bowling a fine spell at the death of the opposition's innings.

'Richard obviously had a good game,' Bisson said.

'He was the backbone to our innings. He kept one end ticking over and allowed the rest to blaze away at the other.

'Then when he bowled, he kept tight lines.'

Headington and opening partner Quentin Hubbard gave their side the ideal foundations on which to build a good total although, admittedly, Wanderers' attack was under strength, with Pierre Moody, Keith Le Cheminant and Mike Savage all absentees, leaving a mainly spin-orientated bowling line-up.

Both openers worked the ball around with few problems and put on 68 for the first wicket before Hubbard toed a pull shot off Ted Enevoldsen straight up in the air and wicketkeeper Andrew Boyce took a simple catch.

Tim Duke joined Headington in a stand of 42 as Rovers maintained their momentum but the island all-rounder was disappointed to pull a Dave Piesing short ball straight to Enevoldsen at midwicket.

Had a confident appeal for caught behind against Headington off Piesing shortly after the batsman had passed 50 been upheld, Wanderers would have fancied their chances of keeping their opponents to under 200.

However, Headington remained and with Scoones helped take their side beyond that mark.

Scoones took his time to get his eye in, but once settled he found the middle of the bat regularly, striking three fours and a huge straight six into the greenhouses at Les Blancs Bois end off Ross Knellor.

Soon after he went for 40, Headington moved to his cultured century with a single to deep square leg. It had taken 129 balls and included eight fours and a six.

He lasted just three more deliveries before falling in the penultimate over of the innings as Rovers looked to reach 220 for maximum batting points. They fell just two runs short.

Wanderers made a decent fist of the chase and were still in with a shout with five or so overs remaining although they really needed one of their several batsmen who made a start to go on and turn it into a match-winning innings.

Mike Veillard and Jon Saunders, who batted in discomfort after pulling a muscle while fielding, gave them a good start and Knellor chipped in with a useful 24.

Richard Veillard and Spencer Noyon both fell to Mike Kennedy to turn the match in Rovers' favour but Piesing and Glenn Mourant took their side past 150 and kept the run rate at under seven to give Wanderers realistic hope.

However, nerves set in and when Scoones' direct hit ran out Mourant, Rovers turned the screw to ensure their opponents would not get another sniff of victory.

'It was a good team performance,' Bisson said.

'Dave Piesing batted well and he was the crucial wicket in the end.

'When we got him, it basically wrapped up the win.'

n Saturday's other Carey Olsen GCA Championship fixture between Elizabeth College and Total Cobo was called off due to a flooded wicket at the College Field.

Yesterday's clash between Clubhouse Optimists and Randy Paddle Mavericks also fell foul of the weather.