Alan Shaw

JERSEY’S bowlers were celebrating Alan Shaw’s second victory in the Atlantic men’s singles championship in Johannesburg yesterday – a win that keeps his hopes of a place in the quarter finals very much alive.

Shaw, who completes his group campaign today with a somewhat daunting encounter with Devon teenager Sam Tolchard, one of the favourites for the title, needs a big performance, and a win against the young Englishman.

He also needs some help from the host country’s Gerry Baker, who needs to beat the Namibian Johan Jacobs if Shaw, who is handily placed in fifth place, is to climb one place and make the cut.

It was a shock morning defeat at the hands of Californian Jim Olson that dented Shaw’s hopes, but, apart from a profitable spell between the 12th and 18th ends, when he scored on five ends to Olson’s two, he was outplayed.

Determined to grab a lifeline, Shaw came out fighting after lunch, and powered into a 13-1 lead over the Dutch representative, Frank de Vries, then held on grimly as his opponent made inroads, before winning, 21-13.