Scratch League set for grand finale
DAVE JEFFERY has a habit of playing his cards close to his chest.
Whether that is to guard any grand plan that he has formulated or simply because he is yet to reach a decision on team or tactics is never really clear, though.
As team captain, Jeffery leads his La Grande Mare Douit Dodgers into the inaugural Island Team Scratch League against the Royals today at L’Ancresse, but when it comes to specific team news, his reply is that ‘the Dodgers will not be at full strength due’.
But whoever tees up for the Dodgers this afternoon is guaranteed to be up for the challenge as they have been throughout this first campaign which has seen six-man teams from three clubs battle it out in two foursomes and two singles rubbers, home and away, in the group stage complete with bonus points for nearest-the-pins with the top two progressing to today’s grand finale.
‘The Dodgers think the inaugural Scratch League has been a great success,’ Jeffery said yesterday.
‘We knew before the league started that we would be up against it, playing seasoned island players off scratch, but in every round the boys have upped their game and pulled off a few surprises in the process.
‘Our only defeat in the round-robin was at home to the Royal, and they showed us a lot of respect that day with the strength of team they brought down.’
Jeffery believes home advantage will make the Royals favourites today, but the Dodgers’ away record suggests that they will be hard to beat.
‘The unfortunate ball-marking incident to end my singles match versus Tom has ultimately cost us home advantage for the final but we are undefeated away from home and have plenty of players who play well at L’Ancresse,’ Jeffery said.
‘We are probably outsiders for the title, but I’m confident that the team can take it up a gear and over 18 holes of matchplay, you never know.’
Today’s final starts at 4pm.
