RBC Canucks v Drunken Duck Rangers B

Last Saturday saw the Guernsey Division 2 winners take on the Jersey equivalent for the tag of CI Champions in the B Upton played at the fantastic sports grounds at Quennevais. Warm sunny conditions and two evenly matched sides produced an excellent encounter that went right down to the bottom of the 7th.

Rangers, missing 3 of their regulars, were able to draw on their squad depth and whilst fielding a different outfield quartet they produced a near faultless performance.

Batting first, as the visitors, the Guernsey league winners quickly jumped into a 3 run lead when on 2 outs, Tom “Noddy” Stanley scored both Rachel Page and Rob Deweson; and then on a Caroline Mathews hit he crossed the plate himself.

RBC Canucks, showing their pedigree as Jersey champions, hit back by scoring a single and a triple in the next two innings to lead 4-3 going into the 5th. This position could well have been better for the hosts if it wasn’t for excellent outfield catches by Louise Bedford and the ball magnet Martin “Tinny” Le Cras, who was unofficially Player of the Match.

The Drunken Duck sponsored team, following a fruitless three innings without even a sniff of a run, produced a strong run in. Leading off in the 5th, Adrian “Drain” Windsor-Smith smacked a double down the centre-right channel and in turn was scored in by Matt Marquis with another double going into the opposite outfield slot. Deweson then scored Marquis for the 3rd of the innings with a hit straight through short-stop.

Top of the 6th and whilst blanking their opponents (due in no small part to fine pitching) the red & blacks added a single when Windsor-Smith scored Le Cras. This set up the final innings with Rangers 6-4 up but still with the game very much in the balance.

A 2 down drive up the middle by Jo Meredith was followed by a double by Stanley giving Mathews another RBI opportunity which she accepted with a single, scoring the lead runner.

7-4 to the Sarnian side but, with the always difficult task of closing out the last bat and Canucks rotation giving them a top of the order lead off, the pressure was always going to be on the away side. Things didn’t start too well with the Jersey lead off hitting through the centre-right infield slot for a safe single. Second batter up and the tying run at the plate, the visiting supporters found their voices when a drive at second base Marquis was cleanly picked up for the tag and throw to 1st which was gloved by Kiera Vaudin for the double.

Two down and the ‘last chance saloon’ for the Canucks but aptly the game finished on another K for the impressive Deweson. With gloves being launched skywards Drunken Duck Rangers B had completed a faultless season winning everything at their level of play.

Subs
Becky Webb
Alan “The Ghost” Myers
James “Wooly” Woolnough

See the photos on the Gallery page.