Pitschou through to last four but given a scare

FORMER champion Gary Pitschou suffered a major scare before moving into the semi-finals of the Elliott Singles, the island's main men's individual competition. He was taken the distance and 23 ends by Dan de la Mare, who led 19-17 and was on the brink of going through.

But Pitschou not only saved game with his last bowl to score one, he scored a two on the next and a single on the 23rd to triumph 21-19.

In the other quarter-finals, Don Batiste led Garry Collins all the way to win 21-15, while Dan Le Cheminant came from 16-20 down to beat Sid Le Maitre with a sequence of 1-1-1-2.

The fourth quarter-final saw Matt Le Ber beat his father Len, who had led 12-9, 21-15.

The four players through to the semis of the women's de Putron Singles are Lyn Small, Alison Merrien, Pam Harding and Anne Simon.

The first-named was 11-all with Angela Bartie after 14 ends, but seemed to be heading out when her opponent moved 18-13 up.

Small then outdrew her opponent for a three, while Bartie followed with a two on the next only to get stuck on 20 and lose to a 2-1-1 sequence.

Merrien, too, had a narrow escape.

The island number one led Gwen de la Mare 9-5 but by 21 ends was 17-20 down and on the brink.

But Merrien showed just why she is a champion with two successive twos to win 21-20.

Recently-crowned British isles fours champion Mac Timms was another to go the distance, only this time in the men only Press Singles.

He squandered a 17-9 advantage against Steve Machon, but from level going into the final end stole the one he needed to reach the semis.

Ian Merrien, who has spent a considerable amount of time this summer treading the roads, path and running track to get fit, beat 2005 island singles champion Geoff Savident, and the other two semi-final spots go to Pitschou and Matt Le Ber.

The latter scraped past Collins with three doubles to finish, while Pitschou stepped up a gear in the latter stages to beat Steve Crockett 21-12.

Playing under the title 'Brats', the new British fours champions had original member, Ralph Deakin, back for their Sandeman Fours quarter-final against Bad Boy Inc.

Reclaiming his place from Timms, who filled in at Clevedon, Deakin's team triumphed 32-15.

Other quarter-fimal fours winners were Optimists, who beat Police 25-11, Falcons, who pipped Hijackers and Kneebenders, 24-14 winners over Barracudas.