Guernsey invited to tri-test match
AS ONE door closes, another opens – potentially.
Bowls Guernsey president Garry Collins has revealed that there will be no Le Quesne Trophy inter-insular this year – but a possible test match with Jersey and the Isle of Man is on the cards.
‘The Isle of Man are travelling over to Jersey for 10 days and that clashes with the possible date planned for the inter-insular. Therefore it has been cancelled. Just to confirm, this is not because of the current Covid-19 pandemic, but logistics and timings,’ he said.
‘Jersey and the Isle of Man have suggested a second tri-test match – the first having been played in Guernsey in the summer of 2017 as a lead-up to the 2019 European Championships also held here.
‘The invitation was aimed at the 2021 European team, who are unable to travel to Scotland in August as the event has been cancelled as part of the precautions over the virus.
‘We are just in the process of making arrangements with the five men and five women team. We are also clearly keeping an eye on the Jersey Covid-19 cases and the arrangements when our borders open this week.’
The format of the test match would be singles and fours, then pairs and triples as normal.
‘The test match will also help our Elite Commonwealth Squad for training as with all international play having been now cancelled for 2021 and with 2020 also having been cancelled, it has been difficult,’ Collins said.
‘With Bowls Guernsey being a full member of World Bowls, we are unable to simply jump on a plane and play in UK county-level games. We are only permitted to play other full international members and therefore welcome the opportunity to play the Isle of Man with Jersey.
‘I am hoping both the Channel Islands finals and inter-insular will be played in 2022, which is set to be a busy year with the Commonwealth Games, a possible European Championships and the British Isles Championships.’
