Guernsey team turn up heat right from the off

GUERNSEY virtually cleaned up at the 2005 Island Games in Shetland and on yesterday's evidence may well do so again here as the alternative event opened at the Hougue du Pommier stadium. Even without top players such as Alison Merrien and Nicky Donaldson, the hosts are looking strong against opposition from the Isle of Man, Alderney, Orkney, Shetlands and the Isle of Wight.

In the opening session of fours matches, the Sarnian men, skipped by Steve Desperques, romped to a 44-5 win over the Alderney team, boosted by a remarkable seven-shot haul on the opening end.

The Ridunians hit back with a two on the second and a single on the third, but the home squad were quickly back into their stride and from 25-5 leapt 39-5 ahead with a remarkable sequence of 4-2-8.

Gwen de la Mare's Guernsey women's four also opened confidently against Isle of Man, scoring four on the first.

They followed it with fives on the third and fifth and went on to triumph 29-13.

In singles, the young Bichard siblings made a winning start, although both had to work hard against their opposition.

Kris, 19, finally overcame Orkney's Allan McCafferty 21-9, while Lianna, 21, had to come from behind to defeat Manx woman Mary Crummy.

At 17-14 in the Guernsey woman's favour, the Isle of Man player still harboured strong hopes of a win, but following a double on the next Bichard rolled three beautifully-weighted pink bowls close to the head in the next to clinch it 21-14.

The Guernsey woman's strongest challenge is likely to come from isle of Wight's England under-25 international, Lucy Beere, who swept to a 21-0 win over Alderney's Phillis Welch.