Rovers miss out on their group finale

ST OUEN have pulled out of their KPMG CI Championship match with C&W Rovers. The Jersey team were due to fly over tomorrow and play the 2004 weekend and evening league champions at their Port Soif ground for the last group game.

But St Ouen's captain and former Jersey team bowler Paul Horton contacted Guernsey Cricket Board president Dave Piesing earlier this week to say that they could not raise a side for the fixture.

Instead Rovers have been awarded the maximum 40 points.

It means that if the blues had beaten Total Cobo on Saturday, when they needed only two wickets for victory, they could have replaced their west-coast rivals in the semi-finals.

Title holders Cobo and Jersey champions Sporting Club Francais are through to the last four of the competition.

'Rovers cricket has had more twists and turns than a serpent's tongue, so it doesn't surprise me that our year has ended in this way,' said captain Stuart Bisson.

'We've had a few near misses this season but the guys are learning from these and I am sure we will be challenging for the top honours this time next year.'

Cobo take on Sporting Club Francais at the KGV tomorrow in a match that is immaterial to the outcome of the group in that they are both through, although victory would arguably guarantee a slightly easier semi-final.

Island opener Matt Oliver is again missing for Cobo along with Robbie Moore, Jamie Nussbaumer and Peter Le Hegarat.

Only Mark Reynolds is unavailable for Sporting Club.

While Group A is dead and buried, everything is still to play for in Group B.

Old Victorians are as good as through, but it is possible for any one of the other three teams - Clubhouse Optimists, Randy Paddle Mavericks and Romerils - to make it to the semis.

Bottom-placed Optimists, who have lost both their matches so far, play Romerils at Grainville.

Mark Saralis is out for the Jersey team while their star player, Ryan Driver, after picking up a back injury against OVs on Saturday, may just bat and not bowl if he does feature at all.

Optis go into the match without veterans Mike Kinder and Ian Damarell. In come juniors Jonathan Wilkes-Green, Emile Thompson and Carl Pugh.

For Optis to progress, they need the victory and for Mavericks to be defeated.

'We rely on Mavericks losing which is not ideal,' said Optis captain Mark Jefferies.

'All we can do is win our match. We can't control other matches, unfortunately.'

Mavericks will look to continue their fantastic run of late that has been borne on the back of Justin Meades' batting.

The powerful Aussie smashed 146 as Mavs beat Optis by two wickets on Saturday.

They face the strong OVs unit that will be without all rounder Chris Jones and batsman Jonny Gough.

Mavs on the other hand are putting out one of their strongest teams this season, with Meades, Vince Kenny, Carl Le Tissier and Justin Walker part of a long batting line up.

Opening bowler Jonny Orme is a notable absentee.

'We're a bowler short but we're full of batting.

'It's not going to be an easy game, especially on their home pitch, but bring it on,' said Mavericks captain James Falla.