Upton Trophy reclaimed

Guernsey’s greater strength in snooker depth showed in abundance at the North Social Club, with a 12-4 win against Jersey that was as dominant as the score line suggests. The Upton has undergone a number of different guises over the years, but this was the third time as a ‘B’ match for players who haven’t represented the island more than once in a full inter insular.

With four tables in action at the same time, the first rotation proved to be the best for Jersey as father and son Dave and Jordan Proctor won two of the frames, but Guernsey took all four matches in the next round. Miles Plumley and Mark Gauvain made it two wins from two with both making breaks in the 30’s, leaving outright victory only just around the corner.

Gauvain extended the lead to 7-3 with the afternoon’s best break of 43 against Ryan Swann, and although the next two frames were shared, Jamie Le Cheminant sealed the victory that brought the Upton Trophy back to the island after a narrow defeat in 2022.

The final set of matches saw Plumley add a break of 32 to the 35 he made earlier, but Gauavin was unable to complete the perfect set of four wins out of four. Jordan Proctor edged Gauvain on the black to finish as the lead Jersey player, whilst Danny Marquand’s final frame 65-38 success meant that the Guernsey quartet all finished with four wins.