Rowe rises to challenge for Stuart’s title-chasers

By Aaron Scoones

Collins Stewart 82, Island Under-21s 46

COLLINS Stewart had little trouble overcoming Guernsey under-21s at Beau Sejour on Friday night and the victory keeps them in the hunt for the Yorkshire Guernsey Division One title. ‘Good win for us and it helps having the best four juniors in Aaron Walden, Scott Rowe, Ricard Fletcher and Matt Sawbridge in my team,’ said Collins player-coach Jeff Stuart.

‘We were missing Nige Govett, who was out with his girlfriend, and Paul Wilkes, but luckily Scott Rowe put the team on his back with 20 points. All our juniors played really well.

‘The way we played in that game sets us up nicely. The U-21s are always tough to play, so that was a good win.’

Collins were only 11-6 up at the end of the first quarter but individual errors by the juniors started to cost them dearly as Collins hit 26 points in the second quarter.

Collins’ island guard Andy Stephens also hit a couple of juicy three-pointers to see them lead 37-20 at the halfway stage.

In the third quarter Rowe started to come into his own, getting three back-to-back two-pointers and linking well with Sawbridge as the pair troubled the U-21s’ basket despite some good defensive work by Ian Froome.

However, it was always going to be Collins’ match as they strolled home by a comfortable 36 points.

‘It’s disappointing when the game goes away from you but we did have them looking over their shoulders,’ said U-21s coach Adam Farish.