Rounding up a couple of months in which the weather has not been kind to the Fox Lane Wednesday league fixture list, matches have stuttered along on heavy greens.
Paired with Harry Derbyshire, we were by no means pushovers against one of the league's strongest double acts of Dave Charlesworth and Josh Iddon.Dave's lead bowls were excellent throughout the match and Josh is dangerous from the back mixing finesse with quality striking. We had restricted their progress to a slow burn until conceding a hurtful four which looked set to see out the match for the Expendabowls pair at 11-19.
But Harry and I came back well with a good spell clawing back to 17-19 and holding two to draw level before Josh's weighty last bowl picked up the jack perfectly to finally get rid of us. We didn't really expect to get much out of this match overall, but came close to a point there.
Next match I hooked up with Matt Hoyles for the first time against an Olive Park Greens team having a great season. It was one to forget as we were beaten up 6-21 without doing a great deal wrong really. Their lead bowler was on fire, whilst their second shooter swung some serious points around with his last bowl on quite a few occasions to make it one of those nights.
Points have been few and far between since and our team Misfits were deep in relegation trouble before last Wednesday night's defeat on a stinking wet night.
Rested again and although grateful in one respect given the conditions, for me, perhaps we've one or two too many in our squad for any of us to get a consistent run in the team. Some nights our captain Steve doesn't make his mind up who is playing until the very last minute. That sort of suspense isn't the exciting kind and doesn't do owt for me.
In addition to those minor frustrations, our captain has spelled out his long term strategy which is to bin this struggling season off and accept relegation, then bounce back, win some (very modest) prize money, be relegated again and effectively become a yo-yo team.
Not only do I think it's optimistic to assume we would get promoted back at the first attempt, but unfortunately I find myself at odds with Steve's outlook for the team and I'm wondering whether I want to buy in to it. I think we can be better than that.
Next match I hooked up with Matt Hoyles for the first time against an Olive Park Greens team having a great season. It was one to forget as we were beaten up 6-21 without doing a great deal wrong really. Their lead bowler was on fire, whilst their second shooter swung some serious points around with his last bowl on quite a few occasions to make it one of those nights.
Points have been few and far between since and our team Misfits were deep in relegation trouble before last Wednesday night's defeat on a stinking wet night.
Rested again and although grateful in one respect given the conditions, for me, perhaps we've one or two too many in our squad for any of us to get a consistent run in the team. Some nights our captain Steve doesn't make his mind up who is playing until the very last minute. That sort of suspense isn't the exciting kind and doesn't do owt for me.
In addition to those minor frustrations, our captain has spelled out his long term strategy which is to bin this struggling season off and accept relegation, then bounce back, win some (very modest) prize money, be relegated again and effectively become a yo-yo team.
Not only do I think it's optimistic to assume we would get promoted back at the first attempt, but unfortunately I find myself at odds with Steve's outlook for the team and I'm wondering whether I want to buy in to it. I think we can be better than that.
I would prefer us to be committed to staying up and fighting for the opportunity to continue playing against the top players in that league.
It's Steve's team and I respect that, but just now I'm starting to question whether I'm going to feel like it's worth rushing out and giving up my Wednesday nights for this team again next Winter.
It would be difficult finding another team. Windows of opportunity are scarce and I'm certainly not sought after. I have to say though that I'd rather not play at all than play doubles league without aspiration and ambition to improve and be as good as we can.
On a brighter note, despite being unable to attend a catch-up match on the Eve of Christmas Eve due to the absolute ridiculousness of my working days at this time of year, the other lads scored a 2-1 win to actually keep our hopes alive of avoiding the drop. We now have the top three sides to play, but also a six-pointer up for grabs against a relegation rival, so there's still a sniff of a chance and I for one will not be giving up on eradicating the scent of relegation until it becomes a mathematically assured stench.
A SHAW OF RESPECT
A minute's silence was observed a few weeks ago at Fox Lane after the sad news that Ken Shaw had passed away. Father of top player Kevan Shaw, he was still playing the odd game for the Westhoughton team until last year and was a regular spectator on a Wednesday night. Only a couple of weeks earlier I spotted him in the warmth of the middle shed watching proceedings.
A couple of years ago in my first Winter season I recall playing against Ken in a father and son partnership with Kev. Doubling with Banksy that evening, we were doing alright until Ken had us on two round peg marks that he played brilliantly. I was in awe of playing against Kevan Shaw that night, but by his own standards he was less than outstanding and it was his Dad Ken who made the difference.
ST PAUL'S THE PERFECT PRACTICE PATCH
Bowling nobody I may be, but certainly from a local perspective I'm picking up some good contacts and meeting good people in this game. On both counts, the chairman of Farington St Paul's no less.
It's Steve's team and I respect that, but just now I'm starting to question whether I'm going to feel like it's worth rushing out and giving up my Wednesday nights for this team again next Winter.
It would be difficult finding another team. Windows of opportunity are scarce and I'm certainly not sought after. I have to say though that I'd rather not play at all than play doubles league without aspiration and ambition to improve and be as good as we can.
On a brighter note, despite being unable to attend a catch-up match on the Eve of Christmas Eve due to the absolute ridiculousness of my working days at this time of year, the other lads scored a 2-1 win to actually keep our hopes alive of avoiding the drop. We now have the top three sides to play, but also a six-pointer up for grabs against a relegation rival, so there's still a sniff of a chance and I for one will not be giving up on eradicating the scent of relegation until it becomes a mathematically assured stench.
A SHAW OF RESPECT
A minute's silence was observed a few weeks ago at Fox Lane after the sad news that Ken Shaw had passed away. Father of top player Kevan Shaw, he was still playing the odd game for the Westhoughton team until last year and was a regular spectator on a Wednesday night. Only a couple of weeks earlier I spotted him in the warmth of the middle shed watching proceedings.
A couple of years ago in my first Winter season I recall playing against Ken in a father and son partnership with Kev. Doubling with Banksy that evening, we were doing alright until Ken had us on two round peg marks that he played brilliantly. I was in awe of playing against Kevan Shaw that night, but by his own standards he was less than outstanding and it was his Dad Ken who made the difference.
ST PAUL'S THE PERFECT PRACTICE PATCH
Bowling nobody I may be, but certainly from a local perspective I'm picking up some good contacts and meeting good people in this game. On both counts, the chairman of Farington St Paul's no less.
Peter Suart offered his club's green to practice during the Winter months for a very reasonable fee and already I've had four or five good sessions on there.
This was a green which I didn't enjoy playing on my first three visits from 2021 to 2023, but Peter and his club members have worked hard to improve the surface - which I noticed on my fourth encounter there this year - and have done a cracking job. I remember mentioning once that it was one of my least favourite away greens, but certainly no longer. The club is a hidden gem with very good facilities and I'm truly grateful to utilise this quiet corner of Farington Moss during these Winter months.
This was a green which I didn't enjoy playing on my first three visits from 2021 to 2023, but Peter and his club members have worked hard to improve the surface - which I noticed on my fourth encounter there this year - and have done a cracking job. I remember mentioning once that it was one of my least favourite away greens, but certainly no longer. The club is a hidden gem with very good facilities and I'm truly grateful to utilise this quiet corner of Farington Moss during these Winter months.
There's no such thing as bad practice in this game and it can only help put me in a stronger place going in to Spring.