Dodgers reign over Royals

THE champions were on the wrong end of an opening night upset yesterday as the Rocque Balan Royals’ defence of their crown got off to a losing start.

The sprinklers at L’Ancresse came on at an unfortunate time yesterday evening – just as the opening match of this season’s Island Team Scratch League was coming to a conclusion. They did not bother Louis Sheppard, though, who is pictured lining up a putt on the 17th green with playing partner Dave Jeffery (wearing a cap) that Sheppard went on to hole from more than 30ft to clinch their victory. (Picture by Gareth Le Prevost, 21702036)

In a repeat of last year’s inaugural Island Team Scratch League final, the Royal Guernsey team hosted the La Grande Mare Douit Dodgers, but this time it was the ‘Double Ds’ who came out on top – by the narrowest possible margin.

The nearest-the-pin bonus points proved crucial as the sides ended with a win apiece in both the foursomes and singles rubbers, but it was the visitors who edged the overall match 11-10.

‘It’s very pleasing,’ said the Douit Dodgers captain Dave Jeffery.

‘Last year we felt we should have had home advantage in the final, but we let things slip, and we have lost Wasif Anees from that team now and he is a big miss, but we seemed to pull together well.

‘To win two games and pick up some bonus points here is a very good start.’

RESULTS

(Royals names first)

Foursomes: D. Griggs & J. Mitchell (5 points) beat C. Walker & R. Bateman (1) 3 & 2; T. Le Huray & S. Mills (0) lost to D. Jeffery & L. Sheppard (5) 2 & 1.

Singles: E. Thompson (0) lost to W. Harwood (5) 2 & 1; J. Nicolle (5) beat CJ Elmy (0) 6 & 4.

Match score: Rocque Balan Royals 10, LGM Douit Dodgers 11.

More in Tuesday's Guernsey Press.