TREADING WATER IN THE DEEP END

27/7/22
AUTUMN WATERLOO TROPHY
At Euston Green, Fleetwood Bowling Club
1st Qualifying Round
v MARCUS HILL (Barnsley) W 21-20 (Off 5-5)

The nature of my win on Monday night notched up my confidence, but it was a sensation to be wary of going in to my third taste of tournament bowls. 

If the head was floating in the clouds, the feet were still firmly on the floor. Expecations at the Autumn Waterloo qualifiers were to get double figures at least and anything else would be a bonus. So leading a serious bowler from Barnsley most of the match was definitely a thing. 

Contrasting green conditions in the space of a couple of days couldn't have been much more extreme. From chucking in the wet at Heath Charnock's Bay Horse Monday night, the well worn Fleetwood surface didn't take long to bake after two dry days and was running quick, and even quicker by the time I got on - the last game on the list of sixteen first round bouts on this sun soaked afternoon.

Despite the trickiness of the green, during practice I was rolling a few good ones and didn't feel ridiculously out of my depth. I was genuinely starting to believe I might be able to give someone a game.

I got off to a good start against Marcus, winning the first end well despite losing the toss. So the trend continued, playing very well at times and I'm not sure about the scores exactly but I was leading - he came back a bit - and then I led again, perhaps about 17-13 at some point. 

Glowing in my bubble of surpassed expectations, I might have dropped a gear or Marcus upped a gear - probably the latter, or maybe both. Although I hit nineteen first, I couldn't do enough to see it out and ended up 20-20 with Marcus in charge of the jack. The last end was a very tricky round peg in to the middle of the green and neither of our efforts justified winning a match, really. Although I fancied mine on a measure with a bowl in hand, there was no way I could risk picking the mat up. My second effort was equally wayward as the rest, but just knocked my opponent's possible counter out by sitting inside it to pinch the end. Then I pinched myself, I'd got through!

2nd Qualifying Round
v MICK CORBETT (Fleetwood) L 15-21 (Off 5-5)

It was a quick turnover on to my next match. It wasn't long before my name was sounded over the tannoy as imminent to play and by the time I'd nipped to the loo, my next opponent is stood there waiting.
Another lost toss and this time I'm on the back foot from the off, conceding two's on the first three ends to give myself a mountain to climb and a brief fear that I wasn't going to get a score on the board. I broke in on the fourth end though and eventually got myself on a good run down the far side of the green to narrow the deficit and maybe even draw level - concentration was on the game much more than the scores, but I knew I'd salvaged my way back in to the match during this spell. But when Mick finally got me out of there, like Marcus in the last match, he played some crazy round peg, almost u-turning that trickled over and off the crown and despite not getting that near, got near enough. In hindsight I made the mistake of trying to play the perfect bowl when it was simply impossible on some marks and conceeded too many hurtful twos.
If I found the land, there was just too much weight and my woods just wouldn't come to a halt in time. I should have just literally focused on trying to better the opponent's shot.
That early deficit of six had been restored and I fluffed a good chance to stay in the match on the last end, but didn't beat myself up about it. I was enjoying it all a bit too much perhaps and didn't quite have my fighting head on.
Much learned from the whole experience.
I'm not sure one could say I was swimming in this sort of company, but certainly treading water and keeping my head above the surface.
I had a go, played some really good bowls at times on difficult green conditions and did myself no disgrace whatsoever.
I can now very faintly sniff what's required to sneak through to a Waterloo Finals Day and the ambition has got to be to eventually get there one day.  

Driving home from Fleetwood, stuck in a shitty traffic jam - caused by over-zealous road 'improvements' to buffer the seemingly endless developments of plastic suburbia, in which a detached house only gains such classification by the width of a wheely bin - my mind wandered back a few weeks to a league match against Empire Services. Strangely, haven't noticed, seen or heard of 'big I am' Darren's appearance at this tournament - the FA Cup of crown green - or any others for that matter... just saying. 

CHUCKING GOOD SHOW

25/7/22

Chorley & District League Div-3: Bay Horse 127-137 Eagle & Child 'A'

v KEITH ANDREWS W 21-18

Overdue recent rainfall had stiffened the greens up and with some prolonged showers on the day, topped off with heavy drizzle during the match, the visit to Bay Horse on the Adlington - Heath Charnock border was a chucking fest.

Inside a week, bowls that required a delivery of delicate finesse were now being unceremoniously slung.  

I've heard many players say of wet conditions, "It's not bowls this, it's chuckin' ", or even, "It's not bowls this, it's f*ckin' chuckin'!" 

Compared to dry conditions, that's correct. But there is still a skill to chucking it. The objective of the game is still the same and if your opponent can chuck well, you've got to chuck well too or... you're ch*cked! 

Keith could chuck well as it turned out and I was in for a chuckin' good game. 

Away wins are still scarce, but that's four for the season now overall and by a long way, the best yet. It was a really difficult game and my opponent's lead bowl was more often a challenge to better and if you didn't get close to it, he'd mop up a two. There were quite a few good woods for nowt sent, as they say, but I did manage to break in on Keith's authority of the block occasionally in the early and mid-stages of the match and just enough to avoid letting him get out of my sights at 5-9 and then later 9-13. 

But momentum just started to sway in my favour when I got the right side of a few more close ends and then a couple of uncharacteristic clangers from Keith saw me level up. I kept the pressure on with some very decent woods to go on and lead at 17-14 and felt I might now have a very good chance here. Whilst Keith got his game back together and rallied back to lead 17-18, I felt my game was excelling and that, no matter how the match was to pan out, I'd done alright to come back in to it. 

But with jack in hand I was feeling confident and won the next four ends with solid lead bowls to take the match. Keith came very close to causing disruption of course, but I'd saved the best until last and was really chuffed with myself to win a tough game on a green I'd never even seen before.

It turns out Keith Andrews is a well known BCGBA referee and Deputy President of the sport's governing body, the BCGBA no less. 

He stopped me in the car park afterwards for a quick chat to point out I'd been breaking a rule by stepping forwards a few feet after I'd sent a wood, therefore blocking some of his line of sight. He said he was fine with it, but just thought he'd let me know. Eek. I was in the headmaster's office.  

To be honest I wasn't aware I was doing owt different to any other game and in my defence I blamed the extra force required on a soaked green and cheekily pointed out top players do it all the time, to which he replied stern words to the effect of, "That doesn't make it right and I tell them so". 

He must've known I'm relatively new to the bowling scene, so I couldn't help thinking that in his position near the top of the BCGBA he could also have been a bit more encouraging and also put some positive feedback my way as well.

Not so righteous himself at times, Keith called himself in when it was far from crystal clear on a good few occasions. It was 3-1 in my favour on measures that he claimed weren't warranted... hmmm. 🤔

I was fortunate enough to get my place back in the Eagle team this week due to illness and absence after a holiday break. Following a second consecutive team loss last week, it was back to winning form and holding on to second spot of Division Three, in what still looks like a tasty promotion battle with Farington Tories and Westhoughton. 

TOPP WIN TO FINISH WEEK ON A HIGH

14/7/22

Leyland & District League Div-4: Eagle Reds 156-187 Farington Social

v KEVIN TOPP W 21-12

A fourth night on the trot at the Eagle green simply had to finish with a win to balance the week's books after defeats on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Farington Social were the visitors and oddly for a second time this week, I faced the same player as I did in the corresponding fixture last year.
Their captain Kevin Topp was too good for me a year ago, but I put that, and the previous night's below par performance behind me to play much better and give him a tough game.
Analysing my performances as I do, I decided to concentrate on my front foot placement this evening. Without going in to needlessly dire detail about it, this was the latest component I felt I'd let slip... whilst concentrating on other things to get right! These tweaks are especially problematic when the greens are running very quick.
The saga continues to find a consistent delivery style. I know what I need to do, but in the heat of matches some bits often go out of the window.
My adjustment seemed to help against Kevin and I was getting a good length again and more importantly, feeling more in control of my bowls.
I got off to a good start to go 4-0 off the first four ends, but Kev got back to 6-5 before I went on another break and led 14-6 I think. Once again Kev came back and this time started hitting some very good leads which had me chasing for a while. The tide looked to be turning when my lead was shrunk to 14-12 and requiring a good long one to save the next end, but as my opponent informed me upon arrival at the scene, my trickling wood nestled on to a crack in the turf and toppled over to count. These are the crazy intricacies of crown green that can turn a match when the green is so dry.
I didn't look back from then, keeping hold of the jack and seeing the game out.
I remember noting Kev coming across as a bit cocky in our match last year. But he was very gracious in defeat and I'd already warmed to him a little more since then.
That was four nights of consecutive matches for myself before another week out on holidays. Facing the probability of losing my place in the league teams, next up most likely is another crack at Fleetwood and the Autumn Waterloo qualifiers.

LEAGUE RUN HITS THE WALLWORK

13/7/22
Eagle Members League Div-1
v JAMES WALLWORK L 13-21 (Off 3-3)

Winning ways in the Members League hit the wall when returning to Wednesday night action as James Wallwork outplayed me on the Eagle green to take a well deserved first victory. It's been coming for James, despite a losing run in the competition so far, he's not been an easy player to beat for any of his opponents. 

It was one of those nights when I just wasn't feeling it and couldn't quite get in against my opponent's bowls. The road in was often correct, but pace was the issue most of the night and either a bit long or a bit short, generally it wasn't good enough against James who took to the fast running conditions extremely well.
If I could have hit the level of the previous night's match then perhaps I could have pushed James a bit closer, but conceding a series of two's stung me after a fairly even first half dozen ends. Hearing 8-16 called, I rallied back to 13-17 but it was like pulling teeth, winning only very tight singles before eventually James broke my resistance and finished the job off.
The daydream of finishing in the top positions might well be over after this reality check, but the realistic aim of top six certainly remains intact and currently placed fourth, there's still plenty to play for. 

OUTCLASSED

12/7/22
Preston & District League Div-1: Eagle & Child v Empire Services 'B' (Result to follow)
v BRIAN WILSON L 12-21

This was an insight in to a step up in local league bowls and the second tier of the Preston & District League. Eagle captain Steve Wilson drafted me in to replace a couple of absentees, implying I might be ready for it and that it would be good experience.
It was certainly an experience up against Brian, one of the best players I've come up against in local leagues. Anyone not in the know would have had him down as the home bowler, he took to it instantly and rarely faultered.
What my opponent didn't need was a head start, but my first four deliveries shot through and I was in the pickle from the off. Then a few close ends don't knock my way and we are 2-8. I did manage to avert a mauling though and make some sort of game of it until conceding a cluster of two's after narrowing the deficit to just a couple of points. Twos hurt in this game.
Occasionally though I produced some very good shots and enough to cling to Brian's coattails for a while. Nothing less than a very good bowl would get anywhere near to winning an end and sometimes even that wasn't good enough, so on an evening when once again I wasn't steady throughout the match, I did knock the odd big shot up and twelve points on the board wasn't an entirely awful return. 

A controlled strike cannoning off both his counting bowls to make one for myself was the highlight. It was the only shot on, ambitious, but I pulled it off. Rather than sulk too long about the result in this scenario up against a higher quality and vastly more experienced player, I need to remember positive moments like this - what I did and can do rather than what I didn't and can't.
I looked Brian up on t'internet bowls site walking home to find this was his sixth win from eight and fourth win from four away from home. I didn't do so bad.
Unfortunately the match concluded on a couple of sour notes though.
Firstly our scorers disagreed, with Brian and their marker having a good old four letter worded chunner as they felt robbed of a point when he thought he'd won the game. In retrospect, I did concede three two's on the trot I thought and that 12-14 had become 12-20, but our scorer young Jack was adamant my opponent only put one hand up during one of these disputed ends. Despite Brian getting rattled, it didn't affect his next two bowls one bit.
Another very good lead bowl and a second close one for good measure does win it, but then sour note #2: One of their players shouts, and absolutely unprovoked I might add, "Aaagh he's not ready for all this, it's too much for this lad (me) striking like that!".

So my attempted strike to save the match went badly wrong and was maybe two feet wide. Not my finest moment and the heckler is right to a degree, I was certainly outclassed by my opponent on the night, but what the blazes it had to do with this big mouthpiece Darren Wilkinson? I do not know. 

He struts pigeon-chested around the green as if he's 'the big I am'. Delusions of grandeur perhaps?

Presumably Wilkinson is winning too much at this level which is fuelling an ego way too fragile to risk damaging it at a higher level where he'll get under the cosh like I did here against Brian.
I wittered something back which unfortunately satisfied Darren with the rise that he was looking for. Meanwhile, I get my outlet here to take the opportunity of calling out his behaviour as that of a total bell end and not in the spirit of bowls, that's for sure.
After I'd gone, there was more aggro towards our players I am reliably informed. Some good players in this Empire Services team, but their captain or somebody with a rational head in their camp needs to get a grip on one or two individuals turning a game of bowls in to a slanging match induced by overspills of puffed-chestedness, testosterone and lager shandy. 

HOT, BOTHERED, BUT WON

11/7/22
Chorley & District League Div-3: Eagle & Child 'A' 168-113 Horwich RMI 'B'
v PETER SCHOFIELD W 21-14

It was a sticky evening in which even sitting still was a sweaty affair, so maybe that's partially a reason for getting myself in to a frustrated tizz.  

I wasn't playing brilliant, but was just about keeping my nose in front against Peter and with our green running very quick, should have played a more patient game and accepted I'm simply not good enough to play good bowl after good bowl as I would like to.
The scorecard never had much in it until around the 12-11 mark when I did start to hit better shots with more frequency and pulled away to make it look more comfortable a win than it was.
This was our second meeting, having played Peter in my first proper league match last season.
Somehow I haf completely overlooked his t-shirt print with an image of Ron Hill in his prime. Harry Derbyshire points out that Peter, recently an octagenarian, was a fellrunner which pricked my ears and I discover he's a life-long member and President of Horwich RMI Harriers no less. We had a good chat after the game about running, rather than bowling.
On the night, our team were back on track with ten wins out of ten to hold on to top spot. 

NICE TO WIN WITHOUT ALL THE DRAMA

7/7/22
Leyland & District League Div-4: Longton VM 'B' 197-149 Eagle Reds
 v PETER IDDON W 21-12

Win or lose, tough, closely contested matches have been the theme of late and whilst more seasoned bowlers might be amused at the intensity I experience during these minor local league bouts, I am what I am.
Despite the surge in blood pressure levels, intensity is my kind of perverse pleasure out there on the green.
That said, it was especially nice to go away from home and piece together a win without all the bum-clenching drama of recent games.

It could easily have been a much closer game, Peter was no mug and anything less than a good performance here would not have been good enough to get in to a winning position.
Sometimes you get a feel for a first visit on a green and sometimes you don't. Although I wasn't endeared by some of the bumpy areas on Longton's turf, the range of mini-crowns that made up the main crown was good fun to roll on. I'm sure this green would be a real handful when it's parched and running quicker, but I seemed to get a grip fairly quickly on this particular evening and when I did get it wrong, my adjustments were good and I didn't let the home bowler get in to a rhythm. It was nip and tuck for a while but I managed to slowly pull away and when "nineteen" was called, did what I had to do on the next two ends and avoided yet another nail-biting finale.
Although ribbing my one-wood wonders half way through the match saying, "Imagine what you could do with two woods?! ", our captain Harry Glynn said "Well played" (again) as I sealed the win. It's a big thing, he doesn't compliment easy. I don't need babying with hugs and pats on the back, but it's good to get feedback, commendable or critical and especially off those with great knowledge of the game.
That said, perhaps Harry was extra pleased and relieved because I was our first and eventually only winner on the night as the team went down to a rough defeat. 

MORE TO LEARN FROM LOSING

4/7/22
Chorley & District League Div-3: Anderton St Joseph's 'B' 145-136 Eagle & Child 'A'
v BERNARD ROSCOE L 16-21

Another tough away draw against a chap in the top fifteen of the divisional merit, but this latest defeat on the road was much more dignified. The gap to being able to compete and win a match like this felt narrower.
I got myself in to a position where winning looked a possibility. Was it not for poor judgement and shot selection on the last couple of ends, this one could have been even closer.
After a good start, Bernard hit back to lead 11-6 at one point. It was clear I was up against it. But I kept my cool(ish) and wasn't playing poorly by any means, I chipped away trying to limit him to singles and snatch back what I could.
I got punished from corner to corner for a few ends but once I'd sussed that out a bit better I ground myself back in to contention and even got my nose in front at 16-15.
Holding two close ones in the corner, momentum for the match might well have tipped my way was it not for a hell of a bowl from Bernard who crept in between my woods and tapped the jack on for two of his own. There's nowt you can do when your opponent does that with the last bowl other than commend them. It was a shot. Poker-faced Bernard almost broke in to half a smile, so it must have been a good 'un.
Last game on, we've got the green to ourselves now and I take it as a small compliment that Bernard doesn't chuck it long to the far corner again. Instead, it's a short, straight peg but a tricky road to get there. His lead bowl isn't unbeatable but I lost my land and this green could be unforgiving if your lines were slightly out. Bizarrely I am hearing a loud conversation about Ena Sharples in our away team end as I'm sending the bowl, which made me try to remember the famous Coronation Street actresses real name for some reason. "Violet summat", I'm thinking...
Whether this actually distracted me I don't know, but I managed to forget about it for my next shot which at least saved one to trail 16-18.
Bernard then sends the jack over the middle of the crown towards the visitors end where perhaps vintage Crossroads or Brookside characters were now up for discussion? Who knows, I was trying hard not to listen to anything at all around the green.
I'm surprised as my opponent uncharacteristically rolls short, but then, like a numpty I follow him. I'm then very surprised as he barely passes his first wood, but my numptyism reaches new heights as I put a fourth bowl in this sad cluster of shorties and the fact I managed to save a point was scant consolation. I was really cross with myself.
We then go back the other way where the green zips downhill and quicker. It's a decent lead from Bernard and this is where I should have struck. I'd struck successfully earlier over quite a distance and there was a good enough target to hit wood, jack or both. But I talked myself out of it and drew instead, too much on it and a few yards on. A poor effort. Bernard's a bit short second time but slightly obscures the target. Once again I should've played through, hit something and possibly saved the game at least. Instead I send a worse effort than my first, caught in two minds really. Game to Bernard and another end of match situation to put down to experience. One can certainly learn a lot more from losing.
Leaving regrets out there on the green, sleep obviously wasn't easy to obtain when I got home... I should've had the courage of my convictions, struck on that last end, put more in to it here, less in to it there... going around and round again in circles... then, Violet Carson! At least Ena Sharples came to me eventually.
Our team of flying Eagles had our wings clipped, going down to our first defeat of the season. Despite the years of accumalative experience in our ranks, aside from myself, none of our team had actually played on this lush little green before. I'm not sure that made a big difference in the result, the home bowlers were on it and made it a tough trip out.  

HALF TERM REPORT

It's turns out to be two Wednesdays off in the Eagle Members League now and a free week in the Leyland league, so no game for a full seven days until the return visit to Anderton St Joe's.
The timing turns out to be perfectly mid-season and to be honest, a little break won't do me any harm. I've already played just one competitive game less than the whole of last year.
I think my game is stronger and my understanding of the game growing all the time. I love it. My enthusiasm for the game and drive to become a better player is definitely passionate. There are still issues with temperament, concentration and also my delivery which, despite much practice, is still not mechanically consistent by any means.
I've managed to surprise myself by holding down a place in the Monday team so far which I really didn't expect. The Eagle Members League has been a great platform for me to take on some of our club's best players and I've pleasantly surprised myself in that competition too.
Still much to learn and at away games in particular - a different mentality to try and nurture on my travels, especially against better players.
I think I can still improve, even in the second half of this season, but as that man Steve Wilson also mentioned the other week, I've still got my L-plates on. I'd like to be considered for my provisional license by the end of the season, but I've got stuff to tighten up on and to master playing much more consistently first.

 

I CAN'T GET NO SLEEP 

I've asked team mates if they struggle sleeping after matches and I get some funny looks. It must just be me then. Playing matches in the evening, I struggle to wind down in time for bed. Bowls are whizzing around in my head, going over shots again and again. Win or lose, play well or badly, it's hard work nodding off.

Early mornings progressively catch up on me. Out with the dogs very early doors, busy days at work, a few runs, three bowls matches in a week... no bother was it not for crown green insomnia. By Friday night it's become normal to be abnormally absolutely goosed and fit for nowt. 


RUNNING READY FOR AUTUMN
Running has undoubtedly taken a back seat to bowling this Spring and Summer, but I'm ticking over and feeling good when I get out. I've certainly shed a bit of timber since I raced in London at the end of February and can tell I'm in better shape.
Only in an ideal world of winning the lottery would I have enough time to compete with running and crown green at the same time. But when the nights get shorter and the main bowls season closes, the running will take precedence and I intend to get my arse down to Blackburn Harriers track sessions and do some ugly stuff.
Hurtling towards the age of 49, I'm not sure what personal achievements I can gain on a competitive level. It's more about the mindfulness I get from tough exercise and natural landscape, just being able to retain the normality and routine of getting out on the fells again and being able to run hard for an hour or two. Then, body parts pending, maybe racing again.
I've been here before on the threshold of some sort of comeback, but I don't think I'll ever give up really.