'Could do better'

GUERNSEY'S bowlers took a deep breath after their exertions in the pairs and triples and returned to the Northfield greens in Ayr yesterday to compete for the Atlantic singles and fours titles. 'I'm not too happy tonight, because I thought we could have done better,' said team manager Paul Sargeant. 'But at least Matt Le Ber chalked up a good win in the men's singles and Guernsey's women managed to win one and lose one in the singles and fours.'

Sargeant was referring to the disappointing way the island's men, after winning a bronze medal in the triples on Tuesday, had capitulated in the fours, losing 28-14 in the morning to Jersey and 21-7 to Wales after lunch.

Shirley Petit, Doreen Batiste, Gwen de la Mare and Wilma Le Feuvre lost their opening match, which was always going to be tough against Scotland, 23-8, but bounced back to beat the USA by the same score.

Jackie Nicolle, too, finished the day with a 50 per cent record, having lost to Ireland's Jennifer Dowds, 21-13, but having beaten Jersey's Welsh-born Gaynor Thomas, 21-17 - no mean achievement.

'That was a good win,' said Sargeant. 'Every win against Jersey is a good one - almost as good as a gold medal.'

There was never very much between the two Channel Islanders and the lead changed hands on a regular basis. Nicolle scored a treble on the sixth end to lead 7-4, but Thomas collected a full house on the 13th to lead 13-10.

That 13th end pick-up proved unlucky for Thomas, because Nicolle replied with a single, then three doubles, followed by another single to lead 18-13 before the Jersey player closed the gap to 19-17.

Two ends later it was all over as Nicolle sealed victory with a single on the 22nd and a double on the 23rd.

Le Ber, who faced 'Spaniard' Nick Cole in his first group game, came up trumps against a former golf professional who has been climbing the WBL rankings, winning at a canter, 21-11.

He then took on Mike Prosser, who played a key role in the Welsh win in the triples on Tuesday, and never really got to grips with a tricky rink as the man from the Rhondda sped to a 21-9 victory.

'I'm reasonably happy winning one out of two, because they were always going to be hard games,' said Le Ber.

'I was delighted with my form against Nick, but disappointed with how I played against Mike, but I'm hopeful that I can qualify for the quarter finals.'