Starting well will be key to a successful defence

Although they sound like they could have been a couple of attractions in the Battle of Britain Air Display, they are in reality the types of golfer captain Dave Jeffery hopes to mould into a winning team this weekend at Grouville where Guernsey defend the Challenge Trophy in the Ravenscroft Men’s Inter-Insular.

History suggests the odds are stacked against the Sarnians, who have not won at the Royal Jersey Golf Club links since 1980, but Jeffery sees no reason why his visitors cannot buck the trend and retain the silverware.

‘There are plenty of options, everyone is happy to play with everyone, it’s a well-balanced team. We have got some steady Eddies, got some bombers in there, so we’ll make them gel and hopefully it will work,’ he said.

‘We haven’t performed brilliantly there in the past – I’m not sure why that is because it is not a long course and the ball runs around there – but I imagine like most inter-insulars it will come down to around the greens, chipping and putting, holing the crucial putts when you have to.’

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The Guernsey captain does believe a productive first session in the fourballs would be key, though.

‘We have to start well away from home. We’ve got the benefit of being holders, which means we need 10 points rather than 10-and-a-half – it doesn’t sound much but actually it can make quite a lot of difference in the overall score.

‘So start off well in the fourballs, get some points on the board, build on that in the afternoon foursomes and then hopefully pick up our fair share of the singles on Sunday.’

Jeffery expects it to be a ‘fairly even contest’ with the story of the Jersey team very similar to that of his own side with a couple of high-profile absentees and a couple of new faces.

Guernsey, who are without Bobby Eggo and Daniel Griggs among others due to unavailability, are fielding two debutants in Ollie Chedhomme and Arthur Evans, but Jeffery feels that the match’s Covid-enforced delay of a year will help freshen the appetite of experienced campaigners too.

‘Everyone wanted to get it played so we’re all looking forward to going over there and competing again.

‘I imagine both teams have been “will it happen, won’t it happen”, so that may have affected preparations a little bit, but the decision was made three or four weeks ago to get it played so I’m sure both teams will be well prepared and keen to contest the trophy again.’

TEAMS

Guernsey

Danny Bisson, Danny Blondel, Jamie Blondel, Ollie Chedhomme, Arthur Evans, Tom Le Huray, Steve Mahy, Mick Marley, Jeremy Nicolle, Tom Pattimore. Reserve: Rory McKenna. Captain: Dave Jeffery.

Jersey

Simon Allchin, Steven Anderson, Sam Crenan, Phill Evans, Alex Guelpa, Mathew Hague, Matthew Parkman, Jeremy Phillips, Richard Ramskill, Jason Stokes. Reserves: Sam Jaakola, Mark Tostevin. Captain: Ian Daly.

Schedule

Saturday: 8.30am – fourballs; 2pm – foursomes. Sunday: 8.30am – singles.