BACK TO WINNING WAYS

Wednesday 29th May 2024

CHORLEY & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIV-2: Eagle & Child 'A' 137-129 Hoghton

v GARETH WHITTLE W 21-10

A Wednesday nighter instead of Monday this week in the Chorley league. Our troublesome Eagle green was treated to a verti-cut and deep seeding at the weekend, with a longer term view to restoring it back to it's best.
I hadn't played at all since last Thursday and this rearranged game was a timely break from it to be honest. I'd had four tough and tightly fought games in eight days, all four were defeats despite mainly playing well so it was a mental break to come back keen, fresh and determined to push that bit harder for a win.
I expected a very tough game from Gareth, whose name sits in my memory bank somewhere as a very decent player. But the Hoghton man wasn't consistently getting to grips with the sluggish pace of our green and left me opportunities at key moments of the game.
The first end was a horror show though, as I sent my first one three yards over, my second one almost just as short, and two poor woods from Gareth scattered in between them were good enough to win. "Bad end", said my opponent. Actually, it was bloody awful.
The game started properly next end though, Gareth sends a very good lead towards our clubhouse but I pipped it with my first bowl. It was looking like a close encounter on the cards as the next few ends were tight and it was the visiting bowler who pushed ahead at 3-5.
I settled down though and started sending some good leads, backing them up with a decent second on occasion and, just picking away, doing what I was doing, was gobsmacked to hear I'd turned the game on it's head at 14-5.
More of the same and a good two in front of the visitors end sat me on the brink at 20-8. I should have played straight peg, kept it as simple as possible, but the devil in me played round peg on a mark I enjoy - but cocked up on this occasion - with Gareth rolling two close ones to keep himself in it. Having got to twenty first during my last two games and lost, there was a threat of getting hot under the collar if I couldn't break again quickly. Two down on the next end after my first bowl ran through by a yard, a bit of pressure on now but I took my time and found a perfect adjustment to feel the relief of that winning feeling again.
Gareth was a very gracious opponent with a bit of class amout him. He's played the game many more years than I have and whilst unhappy with the way he played, recognised that wasn't entirely the reason this game got away from him. 

On the team front, four winners each but won by eight chalks. Home wins are important for us, however close. 

DYSON LONG GAME SEES JAWS OF VICTORY *VACUUM-SHUT AGAIN

Thursday 23rd May 2024

LEYLAND & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIV-3: Ashton BC 207-158 Eagle Reds
v PETER DYSON L 20-21

Heavy rain all day yesterday, some showers today and drizzle during play made for a fair old chuck on Ashton Bowling Club's splendid big grassy green.
Heavy greens certainly suit the long game home players at this level and Peter was exceptional all evening with it to be fair. Lose the block against this chap tonight and it required a fair old sling of a bloody good bowl to get it back.
My comparatively shorter and simpler game was also executed quite well though and so this made for a quite a game.
I started well, put some good ones up and had to clench my bum a few times when Peter came in to steal, but probably went five or six up before sending two that weren't tight enough and gave my opponent a chance to do what he wanted to do.
Off we went, whizzing up and down the longer length of the green on tightish round pegs and I was sending stuff that wasn't bad, saving a few times, but Peter was getting really close from some distance.
I've learned you just have to ride the storm in these situations, keep sticking them up there until something goes your way and eventually he left me a yard to fill in and I did so with a much needed two. Until then, it felt like that early lead had been significantly munched at and possibly now reversed to his advantage.
I was playing fine though, it's one of those things. It's another different green and different conditions, bowls were rearing up quicker and I felt somehow that wasn't to my advantage against this chap on his home turf.
Eventually a better spell came my way again and I began to win more ends than I was losing. It was still a surprise to hear I'd gone 16-15 up though when I finally got a shot at playing widthways over the top of the crown. I'd been wanting to get there all match, it's becoming a favourite mark of mine on away greens. My lead bowls were really starting to sharpen up. If I put two good ones up, Peter would knock one out, but I continued in charge of the block with four more singles to go all-but.
At this point, Peter, who seemed to be a little bit of a Jekyll and Hyde character throughout the contest, was having a big moan to someone at the side of the green behind us. I don't think it put me off as such, but maybe it was a slight distraction as I sent the jack further than intended and near the green's edge (Under the gaze of Harry Glynn, who, as recently mentioned takes a dim view of playing to the borders when all-but!)
I wanted the ground to eat me up. I made amends with a very reasonable lead bowl just a foot and a half off the target though, but my second one - wide and overshot in to the gutter - was unforgivable. Even something short would've done to block or be of some nuisance value. It was a very poor bowl at a critical moment.
Sure enough Peter stole in with his second delivery, a great shot to save the game. Off we popped again on long marks. Firstly in to a corner where his second bowl won by a tight measure. Then we are up and down the long roadside end on round pegs and after more combinations of Peter's accuracy and a few unfortunate moments for me, see my lead shrunk back to 20-19. At this point, my first bowl beats his. Surely I've got him now?
Unbelievably, Peter throws a better second and knocks the jack up closer to his first for two. I didn't quite get there, again perhaps the wrong shot choice, turning over and hitting something might have saved the game but I lost it on that critical end a little earlier really.
I think generally I was a shade unlucky at times in this match, but I ground myself back in to a very good winning position again, only for a bit of tactical numptyism to allow my opponent back in.
The second time in four nights I've lost 20-21 from a decent match winning position away from home. But, having played some good stuff to get myself there in the first place.
Playing well against good players - but not quite getting over the finish line - it's frustrating just now, but it's a kind of frustration I can deal with. I'm playing better than I ever have and even though results aren't quite going my way, I believe they can start to.
I can still get better. There's still plenty of my game to tidy up.
Captain Harry, after putting my tactical errors to rights (and letting me know he beat my Monday opponent Pedro to four once, on the sadly now built upon Railway green at Lostock Hall) once again said, "Don't worry about it."
So I won't. I'll keep on keeping on, learn from the detail and hopefully start converting these tough games in to some wins.

*There had to be a Dyson technology pun in there somewhere, even if that heading is rather coarsely concocted.
Before the match, Terry Grayston, our team's only winner on the night, said he's got my scorecard (who else?) and that on paper, my opponent looks like a sucker for a game of bowls. I said I'll mop up as many chalks as I can for the team.
Hoover hell do we think we are? 😝

ANOTHER DEFEAT THAT DEFINES PROGRESS

Monday 20th May 2024

CHORLEY & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIV-2: Brownedge Blue 158-113 Eagle & Child 'A'

v PEDRO YATES L 20-21

Another new green to tick off at Brownedge, but a familiar opponent.
Seeing he was on their team when practicing, I did think to myself, "Oh bollocks. I bet I get him tonight." 
Sure enough I hear, "You're straight on Johnny Boy. Harry's got your card... you're playing... Pedro." I knew it.
Having twice faced Mr Yates in local singles competitions and handing him a straight forward route to round two on both occasions, this was a chance to at least try and give the mon a decent game.
I started the game very well, trying to keep things fairly simple but putting up tight woods, some perfect leads and some well recovered second bowls jetted me off in to a lead of 10-2.
Without my game dipping much though, Pedro got his game together and had a very good spell himself with the block to come back strongly and nudge in to an 11-12 lead.
I managed to slow his progress at least and neither of us seemed to keep hold of the jack for long, but at 16-18 it was looking as if my opponent was the one sneaking towards the finish line first.
The game took a twist again though when I took advantage of enough room to take two and then won the next end with a good lead to regain an advantage at 19-18.
Here was my first opportunity to take the match, having led sweetly over a mark I enjoyed playing over the crown away from the clubhouse, I just had to send another behind it and whilst on the road again, annoyingly I fell short. I rushed it. Maybe I got cocky, I don't know.
Still one though and now all-but, straight pegging in to the far clubhouse corner was available and had also brought some earlier joy and seen Pedro go a little wayward. At the point of back-lifting the jack I get called to stop as long tapes are out on the match playing across us. Just as I was in the flow again.
At least the interruption was justified - the mark measuring less than the minimum nineteen metres - but where did my head go during that minute's wait?
I then don't send the jack as far as intended, overcook my first bowl and inexcusably miss the road on my second, drifting away to the left and leaving an easy two for a player of Pedro's calibre.
Down to the last end now and the home bowler throws hard to the opposite corner where we hadn't been during the whole match. His first bowl tidy enough to give me something to do to beat. Sadly, I didn't make it. Just not quite tight enough on my land and lacking a touch more weight. I needed a third go at it, but you only get two. I felt I'd chucked the game away but remained in good spirits. Pre-match ambition achieved of giving this chap a game.
Pedro is a man of very few words, but when shaking hands he tells me the green isn't running and pegging like it should be. I don't know if that was a slant on why perhaps he didn't play as well as he thought he should - thus why it was such a close game - I guess I felt the same about the Eagle green against Maurice Jackson last Thursday. But I won't let my own effort be devalued, it was my first visit there on one of his home greens and at times I played really well on it.
To come away knowing I could (and to think I should) have won that game is a sure sign I've raised the bar recently.
Not a good night overall for our team with only Harry Derbyshire taking a win. I had the pleasure of marking Harry's card. 

He's back and playing very well, making fairly easy work against a good young player in Nathan Hargreaves. Harry beat the biggest legend of them all in crown green, Brian Duncan, on here a few years ago in the veterans league and used a similar mark on the green tonight with equal precision to at least salvage us a point. 

ALMOST A COUP AGAINST A COUPE!

Friday 17th May 2024

HUGH HORNBY MERIT TROPHY

1ST QUALIFYING ROUND
At Frenchwood, Preston
v JOHN COUPE L 18-21

Based on recent form, there was reason to genuinely believe I could give a better account of myself in this latest attempt at a singles tournament.
Despite having never even seen the green at Frenchwood before, watching a stacked field of Lancashire's Premier Division and county bowlers roll up, I still felt like I should concentrate on what I can do, rather than worry about what I can't.All that said, I probably exceeded my own expectations by giving a player of John Coupe's clout a proper game.
Without the self inflicted weight of expectation I felt in the league match last night, I turned up relaxed, just played my game and enjoyed it.
No practice and first match on, tails never fails and I win the toss, landing a toucher with my lead bowl. Start as you mean to go on.
The game stayed quite close throughout, even though it felt like it had got away from me at times. I think I led on a few occasions earlier on. All in all, aside from the odd bonk bowl or end when I sent a clanger, I was mainly finding the right road and adjusting length pretty well.
There were shots coming off tonight that didn't quite make it the previous evening. I amazed myself at times, sneaking in when John had two good one's up, knocking him out after he'd knocked me out, a controlled strike to knock me in for two... I was being a massive pain in the backside for him. John changed tact go short, delicate round pegs off the crown and down the distinctive slope of the green that runs adjacent to London Road, which climbs from the River Ribble in to Preston.
He seemed to start inflicting more damage then, sending very difficult bowls to beat, but I started to get the hang of it and broke his rhythm with a few adjusted second bowls that again, I have to pinch myself in hindsight that I pulled off. Too many to just be lucky though, I think?!
John gets the shout of nineteen on the board. I knew I hadn't disgraced myself, but not bothering to know my own tally thinking it might now be irrelevant, little did I know how close I actually was.
Saving the game with one of those trickling little round peggers that had to be spot on, I was up on the next end with a not too shoddy lead effort on the brow of a ridge very near the green's edge. John not only sends his second with better weight to win, but taps his other one nearer than mine in the process. Bugger!
I turn to shake his hand. I find out I'd got to eighteen and was lying nineteen-across until that cracking last bowl of his.
John seemed relieved to have got over the line and was both curious and complimentary of my performance.
He knows the green very well, probably got pre-match information from organiser Andy Fleming that I'm not up to standard and so wasn't expecting such a tough game I suspect.
I explain that I like entering a few comps to gain experience, but often feel out of place in this sort of environment. He assured me, "No, no, you're not out of place", to which I think I gushed and said, "Ah thanks, John!". Doubts, of which there have been plenty lately, about whether or not to continue entering competitions should be eradicated for now after this evening.
On paper, John had the easiest first round draw, but in the end he rated it the toughest of his (no less than) eight games played so far this week. Now that really is a compliment. Not to get carried away of course, but I have a right to feel warmly encouraged about my bowling just now.
John ended the previous week in a last sixteen tie at the Penwortham Singles competition when running his legendary brother Simon close to 17-21. "Golden Arm" as he is known, Simon Coupe has been - and very much still is - one of the all time greats of crown green.
Holder of this trophy, Simon went through again on the night as did John who overcame another tight game against Steven Bolton to make finals day.
Tonight's performance reinstated some confidence and persuaded me that last night's disappointment can probably be brushed under the table as little more than a blip. 

MORE THAN MET MY MATCH IN MAURICE

Thursday 15th May 2024

LEYLAND & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIV-3: Eagle Reds 190-169 Wymott

v MAURICE JACKSON L 14-21

Just like a spell of good weather, good form also has to break eventually and I couldn't find a way of holding off the deluge of good bowling that Maurice Jackson produced.
Things didn't go to plan from the off as I focused on getting a good start. Actually a touch unlucky to go go six down as I did, but what's a home game these days if I don't lose the first four ends?
I managed to grind a way back to 8-9 and stay in the game at 11-12, but I couldn't keep hold of the block for more than a couple of ends and there was just a sense that Maurice still had the upper hand here. Aside from his own excellent lead bowling, the Wymott number ten was clinically disruptive from the back. Under pressure but still managing to put up a fight with some good woods, to see them knocked out with this sort of regularity is deflating to say the least.
Maurice continued to put the squeeze on me and started to regain that early lead going towards to important end of the match. When he did give me scope to break, I sent two agonisingly short bowls. Tension had got to me. I could feel my face all flushed up.
I hadn't given up, but when Maurice gets to nineteen, rolls a couple of feet short and I bend around his bowl to rest on the jack, his sublime second bowl to tap me out again sort of sums up the night really. Stunned to distraction at that shot, my second didn't quite find the road and it was another brilliantly landed second bowl by Maurice on the last end that beat my more than reasonable one to finish the game.
Overall, I just wasn't getting a length at times. I was hoping our green would have had been freshly cut, instead it was a bit sticky and certainly more of a leveller for I felt there was nowhere to go to try and catch Maurice out.
This is no criticism of our Geoff "The Grasscutter" Bibby, merely that a quicker running green might have suited me more against Wymott's best player.
Bitterly disappointed with probably five or six ends where I missed opportunities to score or make a two, I got myself a bit tensed up and it just wasn't happening for me tonight.
Should've done this, could've done that... but beaten by the better player and of that there is no doubt.
With that win, Maurice replaces me at the top of the Division Three Averages table, and that's a relief in some ways because folk have been talking about it and perhaps I felt an added pressure. Defeat and a dip off the radar for a week will hopefully do me the world of good in the long term. I've said I'm not bothered about the merit table of averages and it's difficult not to acknowledge it when you're nevertheless aware of it. 
More importantly anyway, a fourth win of the season for our team with seven winners. More wins than the whole of last season I think? Harry's Thursday night brigade are now ticking along nicely in the region of lower mid-table. 

RECENT FORM PREVAILS

Monday 13th May 2024

Chorley & District League Div-2:

Eagle & Child 'A' 163-116 Croston Subs 'B'
v DAVE SHACKLADY W 21-10

A game of two halves, this one. But recent good form prevailed in the end.
Two weeks earlier in our opening Chorley League fixture, Andy Sexton was my scorer as I went twelve down in the opening seven ends. Thoughts that Andy may be a bad luck charm when finding he had my card again could be forgiven after losing the first four ends of this encounter too.
Dave's mesmerising blue tinted transparent bowls were well placed and I might have been too timid the odd time to knock them out. Thankfully, on end five I broke the duck with a reassuringly well placed two. Lining up an even better looking two on the next end, I'd left a very visible target and Dave ran through with weight to knock the jack off and void the end. I knew I could be in for a real game at this point.
Dave's lead bowls did start to lose the accuracy of early on, but his second bowl sometimes did the damage instead. However, I stuck in there and although a bit frustrated at times, was generally playing well enough to keep the opponent in my sights.
Strangely, it was a very poor end from both of us that changed the game. A short and straight looking mark dragged our first woods way to the left of jack line, then Dave finds the land but overcooks it. I'm immediately cross with myself for going down the same road again, but find out when I get there that my lousy second bowl just counted. Still unhappy about it, winning that end nevertheless gave me a first opportunity of the match to go where I've been scoring plenty at home recently.
This proved to be a game changer. Trailing 9-10 at this point, I won the next seven ends to swing a win and although a spot untidy on the penultimate end when forced to a different part of the green, finished the game really strong as I did last Thursday at Victoria.
Shaking my head in irony with the virtual voice of Thursday captain Harry in my head, having sent the jack to the edge of the green at all-but (a cardinal sin in Mr Glynn's book and I bollocked Banksy for it a few weeks ago) I made amends with a ruthless second bowl that almost sat on the block.
Winning seems to be a good habit just now, seven victories out of the last eight and three successive away wins are definitely the best ratios I've put together by a long way.
It was a good night for the team too, with six winners on the board and up to third in the table with a game in hand on the top two. Lots of bowls to play yet but a bright start to the season. 

GETTING MY SHIT TOGETHER!

Thursday 9th May 2024

LEYLAND & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIV-3:

Victoria - Eagle Reds
v MARK DARCH W 21-10

Harry puts me on at number ten, just as deputising captain Steve Loynd did last week. But I think I might actually be ready for it now. Tonight's away win even eclipses the performance against Colin Rawlinson a few weeks ago.
Having weighed up my possible opponents, I knew full well Mark Darch had taken good wins against good players in Luke Howard of Hoole and Farington BC's John Frodsham, but my pre-match nervousness was in the perfect place.
One last wee, even though I didn't need it, and just a general underlying excitement to get on with the game. I seemed to ooze confidence and a belief in what I was doing for once. It's early days in this rich vein of form, but I've notched up a level and I kind of knew it was there but have only just started to tap in to the zone required.
I played a very solid game and only recall two - what you might say were disappointing woods - in the whole game, both on one end early on which was the only bad end between us and I even won that because at least my length was good. Other than that, I was there or there abouts, led strongly and picked out a winning bowl with my second a good few times. Despite not getting anything on the first couple of ends, I put a good run together and got probably seven or eight ahead, varying my lengths and places to go as I got a good feel for the green.
Seemingly in charge at this point, it was Mark who then shows his credentials playing straight peg up and down the front of the clubhouse and it's a long way lengthways on this big expanse of a green at Victoria. 
He's sending forty metre bowls and wrapping them close to the jack. I do well to remain unruffled, stick to the task and put a few in to save and limit the home bowler to mainly singles. Mark's totally nailed this mark now and I'm just waiting for either a mistake from my opponent, finding a world class winner or spending the rest of the game across there getting beaten up until he gets to twenty-one.
Suddenly though, a mistake. Mark was in a rhythm, but I felt he just rushed this end a little and sends the jack a bit lower, before his first bowl goes even lower and drifts down the gutter. I get a length first bowl, but two foot wide to the right and know full well this simply might not be good enough against this chap. I'm surprised then, when Mark sends his second a little deep and also short. This was a tide turning moment of the game. All I needed to do was send the same wood, but I tidied up the land for good measure and sent a cracker to assure myself of two. I knew straight away it felt good and walked up behind it, poker faced but buzzing inside of the chance to carry on where I Ieft off before Mark got me in to this trap.
I'm not just playing a good game, I'm thinking a good game too and my thoughts were let's get the f*ck out of here, win the next end with a good lead and then play across the middle of the green, which will make sure Mark is at least two ends from getting to play from that place he was thriving from.
I remember my previous visit to Victoria  playing against Glyn Andrews a couple of years ago, I didn't play too badly but only got nine. He finished me off across the narrower sided middle of the crown and that's where I found joy to punish Mark and see the game out from here. Even having the audacity to turn over peg to beat what looked a sure winner for Mark, it felt like a cockiness, but it was just confidence and what a difference that can make in this game.
Fortunate a couple of times when Mark sent a bit of weight but found gaps, I hear nineteen called by my scorer Terry (Tez scoring my game yet again, love it) and I'm just thinking let's go back that way again, keeping it simple and send a good lead. It was a good lead too and whilst my second one ran through eighteen inches, my opponent didn't quite match it and it's game.
I've gone away from home and on paper, looks like I've made moderate work of a win against a good player. I saw this one out as opposed to the game against Colin Rawlinson when I did the hard work and then almost let it slip.
I'm learning, I'm delivering much better bowls and with more consistency. I don't know what it is, but I just feel as though I know what I'm doing all of a sudden and also how to execute it.
Reigning in my new found satisfaction with my own game, I remind myself sternly that one is only as good as your next game.
Bring it on though.
Captain Harry Glynn was back and I think he enjoyed seeing me show a bit of potential. If he says I played well, I did. I told him, "I feel like I'm getting my shit together." He chuckled, and said "Good!".
Whilst my winning run continued, our team's sequence of successes finally came to an end. Jimmy Sloan was the only other winner on the night, but some good performances still and plenty of chalks on the board despite the overall loss. 

FIVE OUT OF FIVE AND GOOD FORM

Thursday 2nd May 2024

Leyland & District League Div-3: Eagle Reds - New Longton 'B'

v DAVID DAWSON W 21-13

David put the pressure on from the off with good lead bowling and I had to stick in there with him in the early stages, make sure I got up and at least snuffle his chances to get two.
Once I broke his initial run, there wasn't much in it for a while until I got on the mark that served me well the previous evening. I was playing it even tighter tonight and a couple of spells on there, assisted by a couple of near misses from David's strikes, turned an early deficit in to a healthier lead than I thought once I'd got to nineteen. It had been a close fought match, but I was playing well again and getting the scores when they really mattered. I'm starting to take control rather than losing it!

It turned out I needed to win by six for our Eagle Reds to take the match on chalks and unknowingly at the time, succeeded to make it three wins in a row for us. 

Last on the green like last night, match finishing at 9:50, bedtime on a Thursday ideally 10:00, led there with bowls whizzing around in my head until after 11... the bowling season is back in full swing.
Form has returned too. Five wins from five matches in the Leyland league places me second in the merit table of averages, behind my best pal Lee Dalton of all players, the Vernons player sits top by just six chalks.
This novelty might never happen again that we are the top two and it's a source of amusement, for we both agree that divisional merit means nothing outside the top division, and even less after just five games. 
By the end of a twenty-two game season, sure enough the top twenty or thirty will be some of the best players in the division, but even that can't necessarily determine a true reflection of ranking. Some games are much tougher than others at this level and it can be the luck of the draw how that pans out.
We're not interested in the folly of the merit table, but equally we'd like to stay up there as long as possible to piss off those who will be chasing it! Notably, one or two players who should and could be bowling at a higher standard, but perhaps seek a more likely scenario of victory being more important than a truly challenging match and season.

HOME TURF TAMED

Wednesday 1st May 2024
LEYLAND & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIV-3: Eagle Reds - Hoole Village Hall 'A'
v KEITH ROUGHLEY W 21-12

Two more home games in successive evenings started with this rearranged fixture after postponement two weeks ago and prompted a concerted effort to get to grips with the problems of home turf.

Having played against Keith in my first season, I had an idea of what I was up against and his subsequent improvement, noted a couple of weeks ago by his recent away win against Farington's Roger Iddon as a reminder to take nothing for granted.

Keith started well, but me too. There was no chance of going twelve behind like two nights ago.

The game began to swing my way when I got a round peg mark going quite well and although frustrated when sometimes short with my second bowl, the lead bowl was good and that's a part of my game that needed to, and now is, getting better.
The Hoole player came back with a few good ends but couldn't get a run together himself and once back on the patch that I built a lead, saw the game out and finished it with a well placed two.
Some proper concentration and emersion in to the game helped me overcome recent psychological home green issues and I found myself looking forward to another game tomorrow night, rather than worrying about it.
Best of all, another win for the team and two on the bounce. Not unprecedented with this team, but rare. Under the vice-captainship of Steve Loynd with Harry away for a week, Steve's iron fist demand for victory was met and he was expecting nowt less than another one tomorrow!