ALTHOUGH not returning with a medal from the 18th Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, the Jersey team certainly created its fair share of drama.

Yesterday’s fantastic closing ceremony was the final chapter in 11 days of sport, which involved over 4,500 competitors from 71 nations of the Commonwealth.

Jersey experienced joy in teenager Beckie Herbert helping England to a hockey bronze.

It also experienced pain when badminton star Elizabeth Cann and the ladies’ bowls triples and doubles teams came agonisingly close to bronze medals in their respective play-offs.

Had this been the Manchester Games Jersey would be returning with three bronzes, as there were no play-offs for semi-finalists four years ago.

Following her achievements Cann was selected to carry the Jersey flag into the closing ceremony.

There was also drama for the team last week when the night before his time, cyclist Sam Firby’s £6,000 bicycle fell from a roof rack and was crushed beneath a lorry on the motorway.

But in a true Jersey way, it was all about who you knew.

The team rallied round, used its contacts Down Under and within 24 hours had borrowed a replacement for the cyclist.

With all the Island’s ups and downs in the Games, Jersey certainly made its mark, gaining respect from other competing nations and locals alike in the city.

The team are now making their way back to Jersey and will be met at Jersey Airport tomorrow by family, friends and supporters who have seen the 35 competitors compete at the highest level against some of the world’s best athletes.