Although they lost the final to the Isle of Wight, 4-0, it was a morning victory over hosts Guernsey that guaranteed their cherished gong.
It’s fantastic,’ said Jersey’s non-playing captain, Clive Hansford, who had shaved his moustache off, as he said he would, if the team reached the final.
‘I’ve paid the penalty, but it’s worth it.
I’m delighted for the team.’With world-ranked and former England player Carl Prean in the Isle of Wight team, Jersey knew they had a mountain to climb to win the gold.
It was beyond them and they were beaten in just under an hour, but it was a magnificent victory over Guernsey yesterday morning.In one of the tightest meetings between the islands for years, Jersey edged home 4-2 after singles wins from CI champion Eugene Ellis (two) and David Cronin (one), together with the match-winning mixed doubles from Ellis and Jenny Anderson.Hansford said: ‘It was a tremendous victory and to reach the final was beyond our wildest dreams.
This more than makes up for two years ago when we lost several match points to miss out on reaching the final and then lost a bronze to Guernsey.
‘The last thing I said to the players at breakfast yesterday was: ”Remember how you felt when you lost last time – do you want it to happen again?””.
The players obviously listened!’Guernsey beat us in the inter-insular and I don’t think they saw the best of David Cronin then.
He played superbly to beat Phil Ogier in the first match and I’m sure Guernsey know about him now.’Hansford admitted that he thought Jersey’s hopes were fading when Eugene Ellis was 8-5 down in the deciding game against Ogier.
Ellis recovered superbly to win 11-8 and instead of Jersey trailing overall, they led 3-2.’Eugene is never beaten, no matter what the score is,’ said Hansford.
‘He is a strong force when he attacks and he was in that mood against Guernsey.’Results: Dave Cronin beat Phil Ogier 3-0; Ellis bt Lucas Waring 3-1; Anderson lost to Chivers 3-0; Chivers and Dawn Morgan bt Anderson and Kay Lefebvre 3-2; Ellis bt Ogier 3-2; Ellis and Anderson bt Waring and Chivers 3-2.
