Old Victorians, runners-up last season, and Romerils both won way against Guernsey champions Optimists and Mavericks, respectively, while Sporting Club’s prolific opening partnership of Steve Carlyon (102) and Mathew Hague (75) steered Jersey’s champions to a ten-wicket win at Grainville against Guernsey’s Rovers.
Quenten Hubbard was the mainstay of Rovers’ innings with a solid 92.
The 29-year-old opener continued his good form of late following up three half-centuries against Optimists and Mavericks twice.
Rovers lost their first wicket with 39 runs on the board at Grainville and shortly after they lost three wickets for three runs with 48 on the board.
Skipper Richard Headington put on a 72-run partnership with Hubbard before Headington was caught by Hague, who earlier made a super diving effort at slip to dismiss Aaron Scoones.
Hubbard took a number of hits to the body and one on his right hand while also being hit on a helmet-less head following a short delivery from Tony Carlyon.
Carlyon and Hague never looked like getting out against a weakened Rovers attack, although Carlyon was dropped twice behind by Gordon Irish, both sharp chances.
Carlyon played some exquisite cover drives while Hague was content with a more conservative innings.
Carlyon struck 13 boundaries and Hague seven.
Old Victorians won by three wickets with seven balls to spare against Optimists at the KGV Field.
Optimists made 273 for six in their 45 overs with GH Smith (66), Ami Banerjee (51), Tim du Putron (41) and Mark Clapham (32) all contributing.
Twins Peter and Jonny Gough opened for OVs and they put on 75 before Peter fell to Mark Jefferies.
Johnny went on to make a fine 87 before he was dismissed by Mark Clapham.
Andy Dewhurst (37) and Ward Jenner (25) kept OVs in the hunt, coupled with some useful contributions all the way down the order before Bobby Minty, coming in at seven, struck some big blows in a rapid unbeaten 36 to see OVs home.
Romerils won by eight wickets, with eleven overs to spare, against Mavericks at Port Soif.
Mavericks collapsed to 60 for six before Justin Walker (65) and Andy Burkhardt (30) dug deep to enable Mavericks to get to 172.
Peter Blackburn took four wickets for 48 runs and Ryan Driver three for 33.
Although Mavericks took two early wickets they could not shift opener Ian Crocker (48 not out) and with Driver providing the fireworks with a very impressive and rapid unbeaten 88 Romerils eased to victory.
Cup-holders Cobo, missing five first-team regulars, turned in an outstanding display to beat St Ouen by eight wickets at the FB Fields.
Missing Stuart Le Prevost, Jeremy Frith, Matt Oliver, Mark Renouf and TJ Ozanne, youthful Cobo, whose bowlers bar one were all under the age of 21, performed with maturity to bowl St Ouen out for 152.
Blane Quéripel finished with two wickets for 33 in nine overs, a super effort after his first over went for 15 runs.
