Optimists struggling to make semi-finals

GUERNSEY champions Club-house Optimists are in serious danger of not making the semi-finals of the KPMG CI Club Championship. They suffered a second defeat in the group stage when Mavericks beat them at the KGV on Saturday to leave Optis with a must-win game against Romerils this weekend.

Old Victorians beat their fellow Jersey side by 178 runs to strengthen their position at the top of group B while Romerils and Mavericks have a win apiece.

OVs virtually guaranteed their progress into the semi-finals when they posted a massive 321 from their 45 overs, with Jonny Gough top scoring with 82, and then bowled Romerils out for 143 to go with their earlier victory over Optis.

Justin Meades continued his wonderful run of form with a scintillating 146 to ensure his Mavericks won by two wickets over the weekend league champions. Mavs travel to Jersey next Saturday to take on OVs while Optis are also on the plane over to play Romerils at Grainville.

Considering all the different bonus permutations, it is still possible for Optimists to take the second spot if they defeat Romerils and Mavs lose as well.

It is more clear cut in Group A as Jersey champions Sporting Club Francais notched up a second win in the competition, which Total Cobo also managed to achieve on Saturday.

SCF bowled out St Ouen for 177, which they knocked off for the loss of two wickets.

Captain Matt Hague hit 73 while fellow opener Steve Carlyon weighed in with 72.

It was not such a walk in the park for Cobo as they chased Rovers' small total of 143. They crawled over the finish line with eight wickets down.

Cobo and SCF are through to the last four as they face each other at the KGV next week.

'Hopefully we'll go into next week's match with Sporting Club a bit more relaxed,' said Cobo captain Stuart Le Prevost.

'It will be nice to win that one and have three out of three.'

Meanwhile, PKF Wanderers captain Richard Veillard enjoyed his day's work on Saturday as he top scored with 86 to help his side win the Sid Guy Trophy - for the teams which finish fifth in the Guernsey and Jersey leagues.

Playing against Caesareans at the College Field, Wanderers racked up 303 for seven with James Warr also reaching a half century.

In reply, the Jersey outfit were bowled out for 168.

There were four wickets for Dave Piesing.