Jersey win 22nd Inter Insular
A tough match won by Jersey 25 games to 23.
Jersey Team Captain Mick Cotillard
Jersey won the 22nd Petanque Inter Insular which took place on 19th July in Guernsey by the closest of margins 25 games to 23.
As expected it was a very closely contested competition with the result not decided until the conclusion of the last of the 48 games.
The 12 teams of each Island played four rounds of doubles. The first of these was a success for the home side who won comfortably 8 games to 4. However, the visitors then got over the nerves and better acquainted with the terrains and managed to win the second round by 7 games to 5 to reduce the deficit to 2 games.
The third round was tied at 6 games a piece, leaving all to play for in the final round.
Team Captain Mick Cotillard who with his partner Darren Le Brun had struggled to get to grips with the terrain, took the decision to stand down and play the substitute pairing of Rita Le Brocq and Keaven Taylor. Although firstly falling behind, Rita and Keaven came back strongly to win their match and assist the final result.
With three games still in progress, the Jersey team had secured 6 wins to draw the competition; however Guernsey won two of these last games (Tim Bechelet and Elaine Paisnel losing theirs just 12-13). It was therefore all down to Niall Fennessy and Chris Romeril who had won all their three previous games to clinch the win for Jersey. They were playing Paul Duchemin and Marcel Edwards, who had also won all their games so far. Having taken a 10-4 lead the Jersey pair then lost this lead to find themselves 12-11 down. A final end with Chris Romeril firing out the Guernsey ball in a perfect carreaux leaving his own boule in it’s place won game and completed the victory for Jersey.
Niall and Chris were the only Jersey team to win all their games, Linda Taylor and Lawrence Rondel, Gordon De Gruchy and Louie Bowen and Joan Le Mercier and Dave Grover each won 3 of their 4.
Marian Allain and Steve Foster who were both making their debut appearances for the Island each played well and won games.
Of the 22 Inter Insulars played, Guernsey are still in the lead having won 12 to Jersey’s 9 and one was drawn. Jersey will be keen to continue their success in 2009 in Jersey.
The victorious 2008 Jersey Team