Positives to take from double loss at St Saviour
GUERNSEY’S elite bowlers went home empty-handed from the lightning fast St Saviour BC green but having given a very good account of themselves in fairly alien conditions for most.
‘It was so quick,’ said Le Quesne Trophy debutant Chris Dyer, who loved the slick nature of the surface, more akin to the indoor green he is well used to.
The Sarnian ladies lost by nine shots, the men by 16.
After Saturday’s first session there was just five shots [53 to 58] in it as far as the ladies were concerned. The second session was 58 to 61 and the third was the closest at 64 to 65.
However, each one went in favour of Jersey to make an overall score of 184 to 175.
Gwen De la Mare’s quartet comprising Jenny Kimber, Emma Snell and Gemma Lewin won two of their three matches with their overall shot difference being minus one.
Lyn Small’s four, also including Ali Guillou, new cap Babs Savident and Rose Ogier won the other match on the last day 28 to 13.
Their overall shot difference ended plus three, having suffered two narrow defeats on the Saturday.
Lucy Beere’s team, featuring Julie Solway, Linda Wakeham and Fleur Bougourd, lost all three of their matches with their final shot difference standing on minus 11.
Bowls Guernsey Events Coordinator Garry Collins reflected positively on the ladies’ result, saying: ‘That’s only one shot per game, and when you can score eight per end and there were 189 ends played, it was very close indeed. It’s a shame having brought over the trophy to Jersey to leave it there,’ he said.
The Sarnian men lost by 19, having secured four wins and one draw.
After the first session the Sarnians trailed by four shots, but the second session saw Jersey gain another 11 shots and the Sunday match finished 63-59 to the Caesareans for an overall score of 184 to 165.
Gary Pitschou’s quartet of Matt Solway, Steve Williams and Nigel Collins were most successful of the visitors, winning two matches.
But they lost heavily – 25-9 – to Malcolm De Sousa’s quality team which also included top international Scott Baxter.
Dyer had a decent debut at skip and his quartet, of Terry Brokenshire, Martin Totty and Todd Priaulx, won, drew and lost for an overall shot difference of minus 6.
Matt Le Ber led the other four and his team of Len Le Ber, Keith De la Mare and Mick Ogier won their first match before losing the remaining two matches to finish with a plus one shot difference.
‘It was another close match, with it being 50/50 on the rink wins,’ said Collins.
‘Last year we lost overall by 62 shots, so it was a good performance by the men to only lose by 19 away from home. The greens were also very fast and difficult.’
All in all, it was a highly competitive weekend and the new round-robin format with each island fielding three sets of four in both sexes, worked well.
‘Jersey have agreed to continue in the current format having now played home and away over the last two years,’ said Collins.
‘We’ve already set a date for 2019 – 7 and 8 September – which will be played at the NBA green at Delancey Park as part of the newly created fixture rota that ensures all three Guernsey clubs get one major event each.
