RATHBONES OVs will meet Guernsey Mavericks in the final of the NatWest CI Club championship this weekend, following their win against Optimists at Grainville on Saturday.

However, only four of the side which eventually eased their way past the Optimists’ score of 154 for 9, finishing on 155 for 7 with Ward Jenner top-scoring with 48, will be available for that final.

‘The Vic College boys Tom Gibbs and Sam de la Haye are away on a football trip, Ward’s at Lords, Peter Gough’s away, Bobby Minty’s playing hockey, Chris (Searson)’s having an operation to get his knee sorted and I’ve done my groin in,’ said OV’s captain, Chris Jones after the game.

‘We’ll be fielding a side, but we might have to call the Dewhurst brothers (Andrew and Sam) back from the UK.’ Despite dropping three catches in the first 11 overs; two of them relatively easy chances including one in the slips, the OVs’ bowling was tight and economical.

Chris Searson’s figures of 9 overs for 18 runs with three maidens plus a wicket and Jones’ figures of two for 14 off six, plus Tom Gibbs’ accuracy on a relatively slow pitch, kept the visitors’ score to a gettable 154 for 9.

Even when the OVs stuttered to 59 for 4, Ward Jenner, coming in lower down the order than usual, steadied his side with the help of Ed Farley (8) and Jones (19 not out).

‘Ward batted really well for his 48 at a time when it was good to have an experienced player coming in, although looking back on it, tidy bowling won us the game,’ said Jones.

‘Even the dropped catches didn’t matter in the long run.’ For Optimists, Steve Queripel’s initial burst, when he took 4 for 32, could have proved decisive, but by comparison his fellow bowlers conceded too many runs plus 23 extras.

So, the game was over by OVs’ 41st over, although what kind of team they will put out next weekend, again at Grainville when they meet Mavericks (160 for 8) who beat Cobo (159) in an all-Guernsey semi-final, is anyone’s guess.

‘We’ve only had one proper selection committee meeting this season,’ added Jones.

‘Most weeks the team have selected themselves, simply through numbers.

But we’ll be competitive and, if we take our chances, we’re still good enough to win.’