Mills’ debut selection was ‘a no-brainer’

The Royal Guernsey category-one player has been one of the mainstays in his club’s success at first-team level this season and Island non-playing captain Dave Jeffery revealed that picking Mills was ‘a bit of a no-brainer’ in the end.

‘Roland has just been really consistent throughout the Scratch League, he has had good scores in the L’Ancresse Open and Le Riche Cups of late and then his excellent weekend in the CI Inter-Club matches sealed his place really – the selectors were unanimous,’ said Jeffery, who is in charge of the team for the first time this season.

‘His style of play works well all formats because he is gritty in the singles, he is going to be good in the fourballs with a lot of pars and a few birdies as well, while he is not going to go far off the beaten track in foursomes so he will be a good foil for someone.’

There is also a return to the side for Guernsey’s best ever golfer in Bobby Eggo as well as this year’s Island champion Jeremy Nicolle as Jeffery makes three changes to the team who lost at La Moye last September.

Both those players, along with cousins Danny and Jamie Blondel as well as Piccadilly & Brymay winner Daniel Griggs earned their spots as of right having finished as the top five in the Jam Golf Order of Merit.

‘It is a massive plus having Bobby back. He has wound down his Hampshire commitments this season, which has made him available for us.

‘Jez has got his head down after missing out last year and you could see his commitment in the Island Championship and he thoroughly deserved to win it.’

Those missing out from the 2018 team are CJ Elmy, Tim Carter and Mick Marley.

Arthur Evans and Tom Pattimore have been named as reserves.

‘I’m very confident that we have got the right team to do the job. The partnerships match up nicely, so I’m very happy with it,’ Jeffery added.

His opposite number Darren Attwood also named the Jersey team this week and there are a remarkable six changes to the victorious 2018 side.

There are three debutants in Harvey Hill, Ryan Riley and senior Phill Evans while there is a return for Paul Le Chevalier.

‘I believe it is a strong side,’ Attwood said. ‘There is a great balance of youth and experience. We only have four playing from last year, so 60% of the side is changed.

‘There is always competition for places and I regret that there were a few players unavailable. Every year it is difficult to select 10 players but that is what I want, I want a headache.

‘I try not to worry too much about who Guernsey put out. We want to retain this trophy and it is always harder to do so in Guernsey. I think we have the squad to do it but Guernsey on their home turf are hard to beat irrespective of the 10 they put out.’

The Inter-Insular will be at L’Ancresse on 7-8 September.

TEAMS

Guernsey: Danny Bisson, Danny Blondel, Jamie Blondel, Bobby Eggo, Daniel Griggs, Tom Le Huray, Steve Mahy, Roland Mills, Jeremy Nicolle, Nigel Vaudin.

Reserves: Arthur Evans, Tom Pattimore.

Jersey: Steven Anderson, Sam Crenan, Phill Evans, Alex Guelpa, Paul Le Chevalier, Matthew Parkman, Ryan Riley (all Royal Jersey), Harvey Hill, Jeremy Phillips, Jason Stokes (La Moye).