Champ Savident falls at this year's first hurdle

DEFENDING island champion Geoff Savident has been knocked out of this year's Elliott Singles in the first round. The title-holder was given a very tough opening opponent in Commonwealth Games representative Matt Le Ber and despite starting well, Savident was beaten soundly by the youngster's attacking and quality drawing.

'I am playing pairs with Geoff in September in Scotland and so I know he is a good player.

'I played quite well on the day. Geoff went five up but I found the green after a few ends and he did not score after that,' said the 21-5 victor.

Le Ber then stormed to a 21-7 victory over Ricky Nash in the second round.

'The aim is, hopefully, to win it but I have got my dad in the next round and I haven't really looked at the draw beyond that,' said the 21-year-old.

In contrast to Le Ber's one-sided matches, Dan de la Mare had a close game with Mac Timms before coming through to win 21-14, while Don Batiste needed 25 ends to overcome Alan Davies 21-18.

Garry Collins staged a remarkable recovery from being 7-0 down to Steve Crocket. The latter still led at 16-15 but dropped a full house, which gave Collins the boost he needed.

'It was a good game. Steve is quite an experienced player from outside the island - he comes from Wales - and I was obviously quite glad at the result,' Collins said.

Also into the quarter-finals are Sid Le Maitre, Len Le Ber and Gary Pitschou.

In the women's island championship - the De Putron Singles - Angie Bartie had a good day as she beat Wilma Le Feuvre in 15 ends, 21-8.

There was an intriguing battle between Ali Merrien and Pauline Leadbeater, which stood at 18-all after 19 ends before Merrien collected a two and a one to emerge victorious.

The other first-round match was won by Gwen de la Mare, 21-8, over Barbara Martel.

Another Commonwealth Games player, Alan Merrien, is making his mark along with father Mick in the Travers Pairs. They won their first-round encounter with John Martel and Charlie Browning on a tiebreak and then defeated young stars Dan de la Mare and Craig Dorey.

Paul Sargeant and Derek Hurford showed that they can still play some excellent bowls by beating Matt Le Ber and Collins 27-20.

Stan Simon and Roy Mechem survived a stirring comeback by Dan Le Cheminant and Bernie Lawrence to progress and also through to the quarter-finals are Roy Queripel and Le Maitre, Nash and Batiste, Derrick and Paul Wakeham, Ricky Brehaut and Savident as well as British Isles representatives Pitschou and Dave Lucas.

In the Brookman Pairs, Bartie and Jan Lawrence took Pat Le Cheminant and Dorren Batiste to a deciding end but the latter combination claimed two to win.

Ali Merrien and Ellie Collins both played well to beat Carol Besnard and Jan Cleal, while sisters June Finigan and Pam Harding came through a late scare to defeat Le Feuvre and Leadbeater.

Anne Simon and Peggy Fish as well as Sally Paul and Yolanda Simon are also through to the quarters.

CI champions for the last two years, husband and wife Ian and Ali Merrien were edged out of the Nicolle mixed pairs by John Martel and Lawrence, 16-17.

Gwen and Dan de la Mare, Ricky and Anna Brehaut, Dan and Pat Le Cheminant, Matt Le Ber and Marie Le Feuvre are among the family combinations through to the quarter-finals.

Joining them are the pairings of Anne Simon and Len Le Ber, Sargeant and Jackie Nicolle, Geoff Savident and Mary Saunders and Nigel Collins and Sally Tranter.

Locals showed why they are Tostevin Triples champions by securing 12 shots to two in the second half of their win over Barracudas.

Mafia, Hi-Jackers, Kneeben-ders and Owls were also victorious.

In the Sandeman Fours first round, Falcons recovered from an early deficit to beat Raiders 23-17 and Hi-Jackers overcame Sarnians.

Relative newcomer Alan Gibson took Matt Le Ber to 28 ends in the Press Singles before succumbing and Timms needed the same number of ends to defeat Nigel Collins.

Meanwhile, Steve Machon trailed up to the final end against Dan Le Cheminant on which he took two for victory and join Len Le Ber and Ian Merrien in the quarter-finals.

At the top of the age scale, Pam Harding came away with a 21-9 win over Barbara Martel in the Supervet Singles.

In the Open Senior Triples, there were wins for BLC, Eagles and Westerners.

With two games to go in the Bowls Guernsey Fours League, Falcons have a 100% record with Kneebenders and Northern Nomads joint second, Hi-Jackers and Barracudas joint fourth and the Wonder Women holding everyone else up.