James Collieson, Zarah DeSilva and the men?s basketball team continued on their march towards Island Games gold yesterday in Gibraltar.

Collieson beat a Guernsey player (7-5, 6-3) and a Caymanian 6-1, 3-6 (10-5) on a gruelling day of tennis to reach the semi-finals of the men?s singles competition while DeSilva reached the same stage while the hoopsters claimed number one seeding for the medal round and an all but guaranteed place in the gold medal game on Friday.

Davis Cup star Collieson, part of the men?s team that clinched the silver in the team event, has now won five straight games on the fast courts of the Rock and is confident of further glories.

?I am playing as well as I have done for a while,? said Collieson, who was playing from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and then was forced to eat at Pizza Hut for dinner as a taxi and bus strike meant he missed the evening meal at the hotel.

?I am feeling pretty confident. It is a good standard and every game is tough but I think I have a chance in this.

?There are certain things working against us, like the tough schedule. It is pretty hard, I am glad in a way I got knocked out of the mixed doubles.

?It is getting a bit crazy ? I think Andy (Bray) could have four doubles games tomorrow if he keeps winning. They maybe need to look at their organisation again.?

Bray is now out of the singles, however, after a frustrating defeat to a player from Guernsey, who had earlier beaten Collieson in the team tournament.

The Channel Islander proved to be a nemesis for Bermuda yesterday, knocking out Gavin Manders 6-3, 4-6 (6-10) before disposing of Bray, who had been tipped for a medal, 6-2, 4-6 (9-11) in the next round despite Bray holding a 8-3 lead in the first-to-ten super tie-break.

Bray, who plays doubles with Jenson Bascome and Sasha Fisher today, admitted he was ?absolutely knackered? in his match after already playing a singles game, which he won comfortably, earlier in the day.

In the ladies singles, DeSilva triumphed 6-0, 6-2 over a local opponent to earn a spot in the final four.

Although a player from Aland in the tournament, who has been playing pro for the past eight years, is likely to take the gold, DeSilva will still be chasing hard for a medal to go with the team bronze the ladies won earlier in the week.

On the basketball court, the ladies recorded their first victory of the tournament, ripping apart the Isle of Man 66-26 with Lindsay Garrett sinking 13 points.

They finished third in their group and will face a tough match in the medal round, although defeat will then give them a shot at the bronze against the Isle of Man and only a miracle could stop them winning that match based on yesterday?s evidence.

In the men?s competition, the Isle of Man fared no better, with UK pro Sullivan Phillips again inspiring the team to victory, this time a massive 110-34 win.

Roderick Spencer?s undefeated side finished top of their group and will take on the hapless Isle of Man again in the medal round today, practically assuring them a place in the gold medal play-off on Friday where they would take on either Cayman or Gibraltar again.