Scotland marched on towards their third consecutive European Under-15 Division 1 title with an overwhelming victory over the hapless Dutch in Deventer on Friday, but the game of the day was on the nearby Salland No. 1 ground, where Jersey prevailed over Guernsey in the inter-island clash by just 17 runs.

And with Guernsey losing out, Ireland went clear in second place with a very convincing 132-run victory over Denmark.

In a sensibly paced batting performance Jersey began sedately after winning the toss, Matt Stokes and Jordan Martel again bowling well up front to restrict the scoring, Stokes in particular proving difficult to get away in a six-over spell in which he conceded only 9 runs and claimed Luke Gallichan’s wicket.

Ben Kynman contributed a patient 24 and Tom Sutton 25, but it was Ed Fricker who was the sheet-anchor of the Jersey innings with an undefeated 48, made from 73 balls with three boundaries. Jack Maton raised the tempo in the closing stages with 26 at better than a run a ball, hitting two sixes in the process, and Jersey closed on 193 for five. Skipper Joshua Kirk was the most successful of the Guernsey bowlers with two for 27.

Kynman struck back with two early wickets when Guernsey replied, but when Harry Player and Matt Stokes added 67 for the fourth wicket and the total reached 115 for three in the 28th over Guernsey seemed to be set for victory. But Player was eventually caught by Sutton -- the first of three wickets for Dominic Blampied – after he had been put down three times, and thereafter Guernsey lacked the firepower to maintain the necessary scoring rate.

Player’s 58-ball 47 was their top score, while Stokes made 33. Luke Gallichan marshalled his bowlers effectively, and gradually Guernsey fell behind their target. They ended on 176 for nine, Blampied finishing with three for 32.

Scotland almost pulled off the feat of winning before lunch for the second time this week, bowling the Netherlands out for 80 and then reaching 62 for two by the interval. They could not score quite fast enough, however, and had to go back out for a further 4.5 overs before eventually winning by eight wickets.

Tim Etman was the only Dutch batsman to shine, making 33 from 45 deliveries with seven boundaries. Alex Kent was the only other player to reach double figures, as first Aditya Mehta with three for 11 and then Andrew Umeed with the extraordinary figures of four for 5 from 21 deliveries ran through the side.

Will Edwards and Stuart Darroch knocked off more than half the runs before Darroch departed for 25, followed later in the same over by Edwards, whose spell of 95 overs at the crease without being dismissed was finally ended when he was run out by Wessel Coster. Umeed and Alex Muir saw their side home, Muir finishing on 22 not out.

Ireland posted the highest total of the tournament so far by making 251 for seven against Denmark, although they once again had to recover from a poor start, having been on 46 for four at one stage. Peter Ferguson made 53 from 58 balls with five fours, adding 76 for the sixth wicket with Lee Cole.

Chris McMorran contributed 48, but it was Peter Eakin and Ben Hoey who cashed in as the Danish bowlers wilted, adding 57 in the last five overs. Eakin finished with 47 not out from 26 deliveries, while Hoey smashed 12 from six.

Only opener Mads Henriksen had any answer to the Irish attack, and he made a solid 31 from 109 balls before he was seventh out with the score on 98. Oliver Weatherall-Thomas then took over, making 29 and seeing his side through to 119 before he was the last man out in the 45th over.

Rishi Chopra took three for 22 for Ireland, while there were two wickets apiece for Dean Curry, McMorran and Ruairi Willis.