Pair into last 8

SARNIANS Sid Le Maitre (pictured) and Ian Merrien joined a world-class field in the quarter-finals of the Atlantic men's pairs championship at Johannesburg yesterday, when they defeated a strong Israeli duo, Allan Saitowitz and Boaz Marcus, 22-10.

But the Guernsey triple of Mac Timms, Garry Collins and Paul Merrien found Marc "Sparky" Wyatt's Welsh triple too hot to handle and lost 23-7 - a defeat that makes it difficult, but not impossible, for them to make it through to the knockout stage.

"We couldn't have made a better start," said Ian Merrien, referring to the six he and Le Maitre scored on the very first end.'

The fine win was enough to give Guernsey second place in the league table, which means their opponents in the quarter finals will be England, who finished third in the other group