JERSEY A retained the Softball Inter-Insular Trophy for the second year running, at Beau Sejour on Sunday, with a hard fought, but deserved, 10-6 victory.

The Island’s B squad, playing a pipe-opener to the main match, also enjoyed a convincing victory, 12-4, over their Sarnian counterparts Guernsey 6, Jersey 10: Jersey got off to a good start with the bat, when Ronnie Jubb crushed a triple base hit over the Guernsey right field and advanced opening bat Graeme Ferguson home.

A two base hit to centre field by Greg Ardanowski allowed Jubb to score, and a line drive to right centre by Kelly Cutting saw Ardanowski home.

Jersey has always taken great pride in playing a tight defensive game and the first three Guernsey bats failed to get to first base, with Ferguson snaffling two good catches in the left outfield, to help the visitors to a 3-0 first-innings lead.

Jersey increased their lead when Graeme Ferguson’s towering home run over the right centre field also enabled Jenny Carnegie to cross home plate.

When Guernsey replied, it was a repeat of the first innings, featuring a fantastic full-stretch catch from Jersey’s short stop Razor Alexander – and Jersey led 5-0 at the start of the third.

Both sides scored once in the innings, Jersey’s coming from a home run from the power hitting of Alexander, while Jersey did well to restrict Guernsey runners in scoring positions, Jubb taking a running catch low down to make the final third out.

The fourth innings was scoreless and featured another full-length diving catch, this time by Guernsey’s short-stop Ben Corsen, to thwart Jersey as they looked to increase their 6-1 lead.

Jersey earned three more runs in their fifth innings with some solid base hitting from their middle order.

Alexander, Lynette Ferguson, Ardanowski, Cutting and Matt Duffy all found bases (Ardanowski another double), with the first three making it home.

Guernsey replied with two runs, but there was a growing confidence that Jersey would be able to defend a 9-3 lead with two innings remaining.

Alexander scored another for Jersey in the sixth, with Lynette Ferguson and Ardanowski batting him round the bases.

Guernsey kept their hopes alive with a double by Corsen and Paul Vaudin and a triple from pitcher Steve de la Haye helping them score three runs – 10-6 to Jersey.

Jersey failed to add to their total in the last innings and Guernsey, batting last, needed five runs to win.

But Jersey were determined to close the game out and the first two Guernsey batters were out a long way short of first base.

And when the third Guernsey batter popped a ball up to Jersey’s Alexander at short stop, the game was over.

Said Jersey captain Graeme Ferguson: ‘Having beaten Guernsey in the last two inter-insulars and also twice in our Jersey tournament earlier this year, we expected to be favourites, but there certainly wasn’t any complacency.

‘In Alexander and Ardanowski we have two fabulous players who control our defence and will always get you runs.

But today was very much a team effort.

I think our victory can largely be attributed to our female batters.

They had 13 base hits compared to only five from the Guernsey ladies.’ Ferguson added praise for the support the game has had from sponsors Barclays and association president Ali Wade: ‘Without Barclays, development of Jersey Softball would be impossible – they are very supportive and have helped raise the profile within the UK/Europe.

Ali has had a massive part to play in all of this, her enthusiasm for softball and its future is inspirational.’ Next week a Channel Islands team will be flying to London to compete in the World Series.

This tournament attracts the best players from the UK and Eire and last year the Jersey team surprised many by coming third.

There is great optimism that the Channel Islands side can go even further this year.

Guernsey B 4, Jersey B 12: Holders Jersey fielded perhaps their strongest ever B team for this inter-insular, a match that was a great advert for the game.

Guernsey put Jersey in and a solid double from Andy Audrain set the scene for a great three-run homer from Dan De Olivera.

Jersey had a 4-0 lead after shutting out Guernsey, who managed only a single run in the first five innings.

Great work in the field, and tremendous pitching from John Pendergast (six strikeouts) had Guernsey all tied up.

Further good hitting from Jersey, including another De Olivera home run, and one from Carlos Teles had Jersey up 11-4 up after six innings.

A solid lead, but more runs were needed though as Guernsey would bat last – and striking out Jersey’s last hitter gave them a welcome boost.

A rare fumble from Jersey’s De Olivera at left field almost gave Guernsey hope but their lead batter-runner pushed his luck trying to make third base on the error, but was dismissed as a sublime flip from De Olivera to Teles at third resulted in the first out.

Two more outs quickly followed, De Olivera finishing it off with an easy catch at left field – almost an MVP performance but for Pendergast’s fine work on the mound.

There were contributions from everyone in a fine Jersey victory.