In the final session, the Island’s six-rink team had not only humbled Ireland, but had consigned their Irish opponents to the wooden spoon for the second time in three years.
Make no mistake about it – there was absolutely no fluke about Jersey’s 103-93 victory, which could have been more emphatic if it had not been for a late rally by the spirited Irish.
‘There were some tremendous individual performances within the team, and I was proud of the way the girls got their heads down after a big opening defeat against Scotland,’ said Jersey president Dingle.
‘There was a good feeling across the green, as if everyone wanted to do well for Jersey, rather than just looking after their own interests,’ she added.
The most outstanding performance came from the rink skipped by Karina Bisson, who chalked up four wins in as many matches – a feat matched only by one other rink, skipped by Scotland’s Margaret Russell.
Dingle herself managed only one win, but lost two of her matches by a single shot, while Margaret Breen, drafted in to skip a rink for the last two matches, lost to Welsh star Betty Morgan by one shot, and beat Ireland’s Pauline Day, 22-13.
‘We did really well against England and Wales,’ Dingle said.
‘I think we had them worried, and with a little more luck we could have beaten the Welsh.
But we really came into our own today.’ Four rinks – skipped by Liz Cole, Bisson, Dingle and Breen – returned winning cards against Ireland, while Sue Noel, who was up against it in the first three games, did well to restrict the legendary Margaret Johnston to a 22-17 scoreline – especially as Johnston scored four of her shots on the very last end.
‘We came here with the intention of taking Eve home with us,’ said Jersey BA secretary Boswell, referring to the Eve Trophy, which goes to the winning team.
‘But look out – we’ll be back next year, hoping to improve on this year’s performance.’
