Brian Bisson’s Jersey side bowled their Guernsey opponents over by winning all six rinks played in Guernsey on Sunday, at the Vale Recreation club, to establish a huge 65-shot lead for the second leg in Jersey in September.
Bisson said: ‘We did go anticipating a win but not by such a big margin.
Two of the rinks played really well while a couple of the others went to sleep a bit over the final two or three ends and we could well have been looking at a bigger margin of victory.
‘It was certainly a team effort and much better than expected.
The greens were quick and I think that suited our bowlers.
‘Guernsey are a bit in the doldrums with their outdoor bowls at the moment and I know they were missing several of their leading bowlers.
Outdoors we are strong, I believe we have around 500 bowlers to chose from and Guernsey are saying they have just 150 to select from.
‘I’m very confident we will retain the trophy and there is every chance that we could win the second leg by a larger margin as we are at home next time.’ Guernsey manager Garry Collins put a brave face on Guernsey’s resounding 132-67 defeat.
‘We had some good results,’ said Collins, ‘Gary Pitschou’s team lost by just four, Stan Simon’s by three and Dave Trebert’s by five.
Collins also gave reasons for the Sarnians’ poor showing, saying: ‘We’ve got only half of last year’s squad.
Six are on holiday, three are not playing bowls any more, we’ve lost two to injuries, and me who, as a selector, can’t play.
‘We are missing depth and experience.
Jersey have got 600 bowlers to select from, we’ve got 150.
Individually we do very well but on a 24-man squad basis it’s very difficult for us.’ Jersey rinks results: Lee Nixon (skip), Cyril Renouf, Ken McNeil and Kevin Le Long won 34-8.
Thomas Greechan (skip), Ray Le Cornu, Alan Shaw, Derek Boswell won 20-16.
Gus Hodgetts (skip), Peter Le Long, Roddy McDonald, Michael Cochrane won 18-15.
Brian Bisson (skip), Tim Murphy, Dickie Allen, Con O’Callaghan won 21-12.
Gus McKinnon (skip), Steve Hind, Eddie Langlois, Jamie McDonald won 16-11.
Tim Mallett (skip), John Skelly, Colin Rabet, Alan Cadoret won 23-5.
