Sponsor 'Hoggs' limelight at GBS

STEVE HOGG had sides eager to sign him up after delivering a peach of an opening bowl at the HSBC Bank Guernsey Open Fours Tournament. The sponsor's area manager repeated his feat of a year ago as he delivered a toucher that stayed within two inches of the jack.

Once the serious action got under way, two counts of five against ultimately proved costly for John Martel's Scorpions as Nicky Donaldson's Chancers ran out 22-18 winners in a very closely fought contest.

Rat 'R' st also got the better of Islanders, skipped by Paul Merrien, with the in-form Gary Pitschou having much to do with the eventual 19-13 scoreline. Islanders began well and lay a good count of five as early as the fourth end, but Pitschou was having none of it and burnt the end.

The Merrien brothers killed a further five ends, but it was not to be their day and Pitschou's team deservedly took the victory.

Visiting side Alcopops got the better of the local female four in recording a comprehensive 25-13 win over Les Filles.

When the visiting side arrived in Guernsey on Friday evening they found that Flybe had left their luggage in Belfast.

Things improved when a chance meeting with Dan de la Mare and Lianna Bichard in Town on Saturday secured the local players' services for the first match on Sunday.

The youngsters added local knowledge to Peter Axon's team and, despite a spirited performance from Wilma Le Feuvre's quartet, they ultimately proved too strong and cruised to victory.

Michael Merritt's RSRB also established a first-game win over Peter Furmidge's Tiger Sharks. A close match saw the Irish side, aided by Sarnian youngster Kris Bichard at lead, edge out the locals skipped by Furmidge from the Isle of Wight 18-14.

The evening matches saw Tiger Sharks bite Les Filles as they came out on top 22-10, with Martyn Dorey adding much vocal encouragement in supporting his fellow local players Gwen and Keith de la Mare, who were again well marshalled by Furmidge.

RSRB trailed fellow visitors Alcopops by nine shots to one in a lively encounter that saw Michael Merritt's side come from behind to win 14-11. Merritt's strong Scottish accent could be heard ringing out over the rinks as he brought out the best in his teammates and John Hagan's quartet had to give second best.

The local sides were also in action and Islanders trailed Scorpions by six shots to three in the early stages and then 6-5 before a superb bowl from Paul Merrien removed Scorpions' second bowl leaving a count of five.

Islanders never looked back and despite an excellent performance from John Wallis at lead for Scorpions they never scored again as Islanders ran out winners, 22-6.

A choice match saw Pitschou's Rat 'R' st face Chancers in a game that saw many of Guernsey's top bowlers in action.

Chancers, ably skipped by Donaldson with Matt Le Ber, Steve Desperques and Neal Mollet, got the better of Pitschou's team who had Richard Richards in the side as a replacement for Steve Bichard, who had played the morning game together with Terry Boreham and Craig Dorey. Pitschou was unable to quite repeat the earlier magic and Chancers edged it 17-12.

There was a session of play yesterday afternoon while today sees two, the first starting at 9.30am and the second at 7pm.