Eggo lifts the gloom

BOBBY EGGO gave Jersey golf a timely reminder of his combative skills with a fine 2 and 1 win over new Channel Islands champion Matthew 'Badger' Parkman at L'Ancresse yesterday. Indeed, Eggo finished the two-day Alexander Forbes CI League showdown with a perfect record from two foursomes and two singles, but it was Royal Jersey, the defending champions, who went away the happiest, their win over L'Ancresse and a 6-6 draw with the Royal Guernsey enough to keep them ahead of La Moye in the overall table.

Eggo's performance was one of the few bright spots for Guernsey golf as the two major Jersey clubs showed that their dominance is only likely to increase in the short, mid and, perhaps, long term.

While most of Guernsey's finest head towards their 50th birthdays, if they have not reached it already, Royal Jersey and La Moye continue to churn out young talent the envy of the Sarnians.

For the CI League weekend, La Moye threw in four juniors of rich promise and still managed to beat both Guernsey clubs.

Royal Jersey gave a chance to their own star in the making, Gyles Robin, and despite being without three of their best, held on to the trophy.

By virtue of their de la Rue Shield win over L'Ancresse, David Warr's Royal Guernsey team began the weekend hopeful of reclaiming the CI title, but that went out of the window with Saturday's 8-4 defeat by La Moye.

Having taken just a point from the four foursomes, Royal Guernsey suffered again after lunch.

Eggo, who produced a brilliant birdie three into the cooling breeze at the ninth, came through to defeat Richard Ramskill 3 and 1, but other than a 2 up win for Guernsey champion Nigel Vaudin over Andy Clarke and a 4 and 2 win for Julian Woodhard over 15-year-old Chris Young, it was a sorry tale for Warr's team.

At the same time, Royal Jersey were defeating a disappointingly under-strength L'Ancresse 6.5-5.5, with Parkman beating Jamie Blondel 3 and 2 in the top match, which left Royal Guernsey needing a big win over their traditional rivals to win the trophy.

After sharing the foursomes, only clear dominance of the singles would do for the home team.

Predictably, it did not happen although Royal Guernsey should take credit for fielding a side worthy of the occasion and pushing Royal Jersey all the way.

Eggo and Parkman had never clashed before in singles and the former showed that around his own patch, he is still a very tough nut to crack.

Parkman was three up early on but by the turn only one hole separated them and it was level by the 13th where the CI champion hooked himself into deep trouble, lost the hole and was thereafter struggling. A birdie at 17 by Eggo sealed his fate.

Behind, Vaudin finished all-square against Robin and there was an immensely encouraging half for youngster Emile Thompson against Rob Messervy.

Dave Nicolle and John Le Lievre also brought home a point apiece to secure the draw.

La Moye beat L'Ancresse 7-5 to pip Royal Guernsey for overall second.