Pitschou's run ends

FOLLOWING the trend of the stock markets, Guernsey's fortunes at the world outdoor championships in Zew Zealand took a sudden dip yesterday. After five successful days, the wheels came off for the island's bowlers.

Having won his first five matches in the 11-match round robin at the Burnside Club in Christchurch, Gary Pitschou crashed to a 21-4 defeat at the hands of high-flying Spring-bok Gerry Baker, before scoring 14 shots against Scotland's Darren Burnett, one of the favourites for the title.

Ian Merrien's Guernsey quartet - with Mac Timms and father and son Nigel and Garry Collins at the front end - encountered Wales at the top of their form and were hammered 40-6.

However, they performed significantly better against the Scots, who fielded the three men who struck gold in the triples last week.

Guernsey's five-man team were hoping for better things today, when Pitschou was lined up to meet opponents from Argentina and the Cook Islands, and Merrien's men were due to face Canada and Brunei.

n Jersey endured an even worse day than their traditional rivals, losing all eight of their matches on Tuesday.