FOR the first time in four years the Jersey men’s team won the Seabird darts inter-insular at the Ommaroo Hotel, Havre des Pas, on Saturday night, while the women’s team made it back-to-back wins as they beat Guernsey ladies for the second time in two years.
While the women’s competition saw Jersey dominate, mainly because of their accuracy on the doubles, the men’s team were made to sweat as they began badly, going 2-0 down and only turned the match around following the incomparable Dave Eusebini, playing at No 3, as he won his fifth and deciding game with a 13-dart finish against Guernsey’s Mick Ogier.
‘Ogier had won the individual darts championship the night before, so Dave’s win meant a lot to the team,’ said captain Eddie Le Bailly afterwards.
‘His performance, down from 501 to a double finish in 13 darts on the last leg gave the whole team a lift; it resurrected us.
After that the team spirit was magnificent.
‘Dave deservedly won his player of the match award, while I can’t think of a better final in recent years, especially with the support we received from a large Jersey crowd.
‘I think that Guernsey, after three years in a row, were expecting to win.
That win means that Jersey now leads in the inter-insulars, 14-11.’ Le Bailly himself beat new Guernsey cap Kerry King 3-0 which, at the time, took Jersey into an unassailable 5-3 lead before Guernsey’s Jason Allez beat Jeff Lotherington 3-0 in the final game of all.
Before then, Bobby Williams had lost to Colin Pringent, 3-2; Mark James had had lost to Rob Fosse 3-0; Dave Eusebini had beaten Mick Ogier 3-2; Michael Oaks had beaten Mark Fletcher 3-0; Mick Le Gallic had beaten Jersey’s Mel Berridge 3-0 and Kenny Horton had beaten Guernsey’s John Cussacke 3-0.
In retrospect, 5-4 was a fair result but it was also a result that dismayed Guernsey who had anticipated taking the trophy back with them as they had done so for the past three years.
Meanwhile, for the Jersey ladies’ team, all of the games were close - according to captain Angie Le Bailly - until it came down to the very last dart, aiming for the double.
Averages ‘The order of play saw Sarah Jane Morgan beat Gill Le Cras 2-0; Hazel Whiteford then lost to June Allen 2-0; Agata Jaeke beat Alvina Renouf 2-1; Lorraine Porter beat Linda Eborall 2-1; Donna Anfray lost to Pauline Chick 2-0; then Donna Le Clercq lost to Julie Murphy 2-1 before I beat Sue Topley 2-1 to take us back into the lead,’ said Le Bailly.
‘After that, Liz Drew beat Marilyn Atkinson 2-1 and finally Heidi White beat Jo Fallaize, also 2-1.
So while the women’s team, for whom Heidi White’s averages gave her the woman of the match award, as Jersey won 6-3 - for the men’s team, the 5-4 win was a great deal closer; a great deal more nail-biting.
‘What people don’t realise is that playing at home can be more difficult to playing away, because you’re playing in front of your home crowd and you’re expected to win,’ said Angie Le Bailly.
‘A lot depends on which of you can hold your nerves the longest.’ In the men’s competition that man had to be Dave Eusebini.
‘His win gave us all new heart; it made all the difference and without that win we might not have regained the title after losing it three years in a row,’ said Eddie Le Bailly.
The next major competition is the Seabird Jersey Open, in November.
Article posted on 30th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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