AFTER nearly a quarter of a century of English domination at the Pétanque Home Nations Championship, an inspired performance from hosts Jersey has prised the trophy out of England’s grasp for the first time in history.
Last weekend saw The Weighbridge play host to one of the largest events in the UK pétanque calendar.
To the delight of the home crowd, the Islanders defied the odds, sealing victory by a narrow two-point margin.
Dave Ibitson, chairman of the Jersey Pétanque Association, was elated with his team’s triumph: “I think it’s absolutely phenomenal what we achieved.
“I believed we could do it, and it included amazing performances from everyone involved.”
The competition placed an in-form Jersey side against Scotland, Wales and the previously undefeated champions, England.
Each nation fielded eight triples teams and, in total, 192 matches were played over the course of the event.
Day one saw Jersey take full advantage of the home turf, as they progressed undefeated.
Wales were Jersey’s first test, but the Caesareans had all the answers, not dropping a single point for a commanding 8-0 victory.
The next two rounds against Scotland and England proved to be tougher affairs.
However, the Islanders weathered the Scottish storm, drawing 4-4, and subsequently got the better of the English favourites 5-3.
The afternoon’s bouts proved to be even more fruitful for the hosts.
Despite a few close individual games, Jersey repeated their 8-0 scoreline over the Welsh side and then secured a convincing victory over their Scottish counterparts 7-1.
Regardless of the home teams’ impressive form and lead in points, the English side dug deep to secure a draw against the Island squad for the last round of the day.
After day one, Matt Pinel alongside John Lane and James Rondel, remained untouchable, claiming six wins from as many games.
Going into Sunday morning, Jersey held a seven-point lead over England and Pinel claimed it only gave him and his team further confidence.
He said: “We knew it was ours to lose. However, that gave us further motivation rather than a sense of worry.”
However, the defending champions were keen to protect their 21-year winning legacy.
The Welsh also had a point to prove on day two, as they had yet to secure a single point against the Islanders.
A determined Welsh side pushed most of the Jersey teams to their limits, yet the hosts prevailed 5-3, in no small thanks to the two top Jersey triplets securing emphatic victories, 13-1 apiece.
After the Welsh wake-up call, Jersey went strong into their third bout against Scotland, dropping only two points.
Moreover, the Islanders managed to push the English back with another valiant 5-3 win.
This meant across the mornings’ play, the English had remained seven points behind the home team, who looked set to take the spoils.
But with the final round of matches still to play, England were going down swinging.
Ibitson admitted: “It was nerve-racking watching England crawl ever closer to the lead we had accrued.”
Round ten and 11 saw the defending champions edge two points closer to the Jersey tally as the home side dropped three points to both Wales and Scotland, while the motivated England team dropped only two apiece against their bordering nations.
“During the final game against England, I couldn’t stay in one place I was so nervous,” the chairman continued.
The English brought their absolute best, overcoming the home side 6-2 in their final clash.
In spite of England’s heroic final push, Jersey remained on top with a final score of 64 points, much to the delight of the Caesarean contingent.
Team-shooter Pinel concluded: “Jersey winning the Home Nations championship is a truly monumental achievement.
“We are already desperate to put the shirt on again and to represent the Island doing what we love.”
Next up for the Islands’ pétanque champions comes in the inter-insular against old foes Guernsey in October.
