JERSEY’S men made a good start to their British Isles bowls campaign in Clevedon, Somerset, yesterday with a 25-14 preliminary round win against Ireland in the triples.

And youngster Jamie MacDonald made it a great day for Jersey with a one-shot victory, 21-20, over England’s Mark Dawes in the preliminarly round of the under-25 singles.

MacDonald now faces Andrew Caldwell in the semi-final today, the Scot having beaten Wales’ David Axon 21-11.

In the triples MacDonald, Thomas Greechan and Lee Nixon played Ulstermen Paul and Brian Daly and Brendan Thompson and were 7-2 up after five ends.

They extended the lead to 15-5, then 22-8 before closing their opponents out 25-14.

They meet England in the semi-finals this morning as they later beat Guernsey 25-14.

Alan Shaw (Jersey BC) was beaten 21-14 in his singles match against England’s Simon Jee.

Guernsey’s Geoff Savident got a bye through to today’s semi-final where he’ll have his turn against Jee.

In the fours Jersey’s Will Waymouth, Con O’Callaghan, Brian Cabot and Dickie Allen (St Brelade BC) play Wales in this afternoon’s semi-final after getting a bye through the earlier round.

England’s Andy Smith and Simon Gilbert beat Jersey’s Steve Hind and Peter Le Long 26-9 in a preliminary round pairs match.