The elite have to commit

GARRY COLLINS has called on bowlers to get behind the Guernsey Glass League if the island is to win the inter-insular. The competition was set up three years ago to help try and reverse Guernsey fortunes against Jersey. The Caesareans have won the annual clash for the past 11 years running and the next is on 1 September.

The format of the inter-insulars sees six teams of four men and six of four women from each island battle it out.

The problem for Guernsey has been that the sport in the island has been dominated by mixed-team events and the players simply do not have enough experience of playing in single-sex foursomes.

So the league was set up, but according to Collins, who is the Bowls Guernsey chief executive, it has been poorly supported.

'It was created to try to get male and female teams together so that the selectors have the opportunity to view them,' he said.

'Unfortunately the numbers haven't been fantastic. At the moment all the clubs play mixed leagues and that's partly been the problem.

'They have their four men as a team and they play as a unit and we're having to pull together teams from three or four teams.

'Perhaps if we had more commitment from the top island bowlers, it would be enough to bring the result. On an individual level we have a high success rate but we just struggle in the big team events.'

This year's league, which finished recently, had four men's teams and one women's.

Collins said they had been hoping for at least six male teams when it was created.

But he added that he did not totally blame the players for the league falling flat.

He said it is difficult for the top players to find the time to play in all the bowls competitions that are going on.

'I think we're trying to fit too much bowls into a short season,' he said. 'It's something that we're looking at.'

But he says the league is here to stay.

'We're going to keep it going,' he said.

'We really need to get together with the clubs.

'We've got to try to work to make it a better system.'