So close but still yet so far

THERE was a moment mid-afternoon at the Corbet Field on Saturday everything appeared glorious for Guernsey bowls. The sun was shining, the bar was open to quench the thirst of the home support and their side led by 20-plus shots. The Sarnians' long Le Quesne Trophy drought appeared to be ending.

But by the time the Premiership football scores were coming through on the digiprinter, Jersey had sneaked home by three and retained the trophy for an 11th summer. Oops.

By then the two sets of lady Le Quesne players had arrived back at the Vale Rec HQ from nearby Delancey.

Jersey had won that one too, by 32 shots, and Guernsey's misery was complete.

Guernsey won on two of the six rinks at Delancey thanks to the fours led by Anne Simon and Ali Merrien, while at the Corbet they were to win three of the six but ultimately leaked too many shots in the closing ends.

After five ends of the men's match, the greens were leading 30-23.

By 10 ends it was 65-60 and after 15 it was once again looking bright for the home team at 81-70.

But just like a week is a long time in football or politics, so is three ends across six rinks of fours matches.

Over the final three ends Guernsey amassed a paltry 10, Jersey a whopping 24.

By the time it came down to the very final end featuring Paul Sargeant's all-Beau Sejour quartet against Frank Hambly's four, Guernsey were needing five to win the trophy.

They managed two and although Sargeant's men had triumphed in their own battle, the war had been lost 94 to 91.

'The old codgers came good,' said a still upbeat Sargeant, the overall team captain afterwards.

'Somewhere around halfway Jersey piled on the pressure,' he reflected, while adding it was still Guernsey's best performance for many years.