Defending champion faces tricky opening tie

ANDY EGGO has been given a potentially tricky draw to begin his defence of the island title next week.

The reigning Guernsey champion will face fellow L'Ancresse man Ross Wheeler in Tuesday's first round proper of the Intertrust Men's Island Championship.

Eggo (pictured) is one of the top four seeds along with his brother Bobby, last year's runner-up Danny Blondel and the in-form Steve Mahy.

The elder of the Eggo brothers takes on junior inter-insular player Jamie Le Page in the first round while Blondel faces the winner of Monday night's match between former champion Nigel Le Noury and John Le Lievre.

Mahy also has an awkward opener on paper against either the extremely steady Colin Bourgaize or senior island champion Micky King.

The other intriguing encounters of the preliminary round ties see the 2010 Guernsey Junior club captain Will Davidson take on fellow teenager and Saturday's winner of the 36-hole Brymay Cup James Hamon while former island junior champion Tom Le Huray meets Guernsey team captain Dave Rowlinson.