Unfortunately, come the end of the second day all that was left of the campaign was to try to avoid last place with a victory over Ireland today.
Back to the start of a difficult weekend, on Saturday, and nothing but a tip-top performance would have done against defending champions Scotland, so it was no surprise that the Scots powered to an irresistible 140-70 victory, that gave Jersey little comfort.
Karina Bisson, supported by mum Sheila Horman, Eileen Vowden and Pat de Gruchy, returned Jersey’s only winning card, and gave supporters something to cheer as she took out an enemy bowl with the last delivery of the match.
Facing the legendary Joyce Lindores, winner of a host of titles at world and Commonwealth level, Karina’s brilliant bull’s eye was worth a count of five that turned a 16-19 deficit into a memorable 21-19 victory.
Liz Cole’s rink looked as if they might claim a second victory, but did well to lose by just two shots to a Scottish rink skipped by Betty Duckett.
The weekend – a scorcher – soon brightened up as the Jersey team gave the host country and Wales tough games, though England came out on top, 120-95, and Wales took the honours, 103-92.
Jersey gave England a real scare, with two rinks (skipped by Gina Le Long and Karina Bisson) successful, and another two (skipped by Liz Cole and Sue Dingle) beaten by the narrowest of margins.
Le Long opened up an early lead against young star Amy Monkhouse, who won the world indoor junior title at Grainville last October, and pressed home to a well-deserved 21-17 victory.
Bisson again left it late, scoring a dramatic last-end double to defeat veteran Mary Price, 21-20, while Cole lost by the same score to Caroline Campion, and Dingle was pipped, 15-14, by Catherine Popple.
Despite these heroic efforts by the Channel Islanders, England got home by a slightly flattering 25-shots margin, before Jersey set about challenging Wales yesterday morning.
Bisson was again to the fore, her 23-14 win over Kath Pearce being the jewel in Jersey’s crown, while Liz Cole managed a 14-12 win over Ann Lewis, and Margaret Breen, skipping the rink originally in the charge of Jenny Allo, was delighted with her performance against Wales’s best player, Betty Morgan.
Morgan, recently awarded the MBE for services to sport, had to score a single on the last end to break a 13-13 deadlock, and for the second time in succession, Sue Dingle was edged out by one shot, 16-15.
The Jersey team took a break yesterday afternoon, and were glad to take shelter from the sweltering conditions – but will be back in action this morning to complete their group programme with a match against Ireland.
Sadly, only the Wooden Spoon is at stake, but Jersey defeated Ireland two years ago, so the prospect of another victory is not unrealistic.
