While Chris Grimes, Gean O’Neil, Karina Bisson and Sue Dingle are setting the greens alight, and have already qualified for the fours quarter finals, Alison Camacho has sustained a series of disappointing defeats in the singles.
Jersey’s ever-present team manager Liz Cole was full of praise this morning, as she sat behind the rink to watch the Island’s quartet take on Namibia in their last group game.
Said Cole: ‘It’s very exciting for us, because the girls are unbeaten in their first five matches, and need only to beat Namibia to take a 100 per cent record into the knockout stage.
‘They really have been on their mettle, and, after yesterday’s wins over Zambia and India, we have high hopes for them in the quarter finals.’ The morning encounter with Zambia was closer than the final score of 24-11 might suggest, because Jersey were only two shots ahead with five ends left to play.
Collecting two fours, a treble and a single, they led, 24-10, before conceding a single on the last end.
Astonishingly, the same story unfolded against the Indians, who play at the Royal Calcutta Club.
This time Jersey led, 12-10, after 11 ends, but went on a scoring spree on the run-in, claiming two fours, a double and two singles for a 24-12 victory.
Meanwhile, Camacho, who started her campaign with a confidence-boosting win over the 1996 champion Carmen Anderson, suffered a double whammy against opponents from countries who are regarded as perpetual underdogs.
Camacho led Songsin Tsao, from Thailand, 8-6, after nine ends, but dropped a double and a four to trail 12-8, closed to 15-14 after 18 ends, but was sent packing when the Thai sealed victory with two successive trebles.
After lunch, she was never in the hunt against Renu Mohta, from India, who took an 18-2 lead, and pressed on to a 21-7 victory.
Said Cole: ‘Alison admitted she didn’t play too well against Rebu, and she is very disappointed with her results, but it must be said that, until that last game, she had played consistently well.
‘Bowls can be like that – you play well, but just don’t get the shots – and the conditions haven’t exactly been in her favour.’ The blustery wind, with occasional rain, has made accurate drawing to the jack very difficult, and Camacho’s wide-swinging bowls are not suited to the greens at Victoria Park, which favour straight-running woods.
‘She’s wisely putting it all down to experience, and looking forward to the final overall place play-offs,’ added Cole.
