Unbeaten Indies add a new name to the Rozel Shield

They lifted the coveted Rozel Shield last night at the KGV after completing an unbeaten season with a 67-run victory over Irregulars.

Batting first, both Tom Nightingale and captain Nathan Le Tissier hit half-centuries for Indies as they posted another formidable total of 197 for 6.

They then restricted Irregulars to 130 for 8 in reply, with Jake Roussel claiming 3 for 12 including a wicket with the final ball of the match to rise to the top of the Division One wicket-taking charts, much to the delight of his teammates.

Although he can still be caught and overtaken with two more top-flight matches to be played this week, Indies cannot and their joy was obvious by the cheer that erupted from their changing room even before the obligatory popping of champagne.

For Guernsey all-rounder Will Peatfield, a lifelong Independents player along with his brother CJ after they followed in father Toby’s footsteps at the club, it was a special moment.

‘To be honest, it’s a bit surreal,’ he said.

‘Obviously, I’ve been playing since I can remember through Dad – CJ and I had to come down pretty early on – and when they restructured the league a few years ago we wanted to seize it [the chance] with both hands and it’s great that the hard work, that’s not only gone on on-the-field but also off-the-field, is now paying its dividends.

‘It’s absolutely amazing and to do it for the first time in the club’s history is just phenomenal and I just could not have asked to have done it with a better bunch of blokes.’

Peatfield added that the key to their success this season is not just their talent but also their camaraderie.

‘I think the fact that we are all good mates under pins our performances really.

‘We all get on, on- and off-the-field, and I think when you’ve got that sort of cohesion in the team it really adds an extra layer into what we can offer as a team.’