Matt Renouf gives it everything with the ball at the College Field. (Pictures by Tom Tardif, 0797130)

PWC Academy captain Jeremy Frith was just inches away from a century as he inspired his team to a first win in the competition against St Ouen at College Field.

Frith made 99 not out, with a three off the last ball of the innings, which was pulled up just short of the boundary.

But every bit as encouraging as the Academy’s victory was, there were dismal inter-island results elsewhere.

Jersey sides won three of the five clashes, including a monstrous 309-run win for Optimus over a weak Marlborough Trust OR side at the Farmers’ ground.

On the positive side, together with Pete Le Hegarat, who made 64, Frith relaunched the Academy innings from 30 for three to a final 264 for seven. Robbie Le Corre made a confident 24.

Andrew Hutchinson kept a tight line with the ball before the spinners put the squeeze on the Jersey side, shorn of star batsman Dean Morrison who has switched to Springfield.

Frith failed to take a wicket, but 14-year-old Josh Kirk took three, as did debutant left-arm spinner Guy Batiste, who made an impressive start to his CI career. St Ouen finished 50 runs short.

‘A win was important for the youngsters in terms of knowing that they can beat these adult teams,’ said Frith.