WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

Friday 21st August 2026
FARINGTON OPEN SINGLES
THIRD QUALIFYING NIGHT

Whilst results have been up and down lately, generally I've been happy with how I've been playing. I was glad of a chance to quickly put the previous night's collapse behind me and see how I faired at the Farington Singles this year.

Previous attempts have been poor here, not only outclassed, but just not playing well on the night either. I wasn't going to bother entering this one anymore, but a good performance on this green against Phil Snape earlier in the season gave me a bit of belief to have one last shot at it. 

I've probably improved since playing Phil too and  just feel my game is made of much sterner stuff now, so I was really up for this. With no other objective than to play well, that's all you can do and see where it gets you. 

FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND 

v JOHN HANSON (Longridge) W 21-10

A bit of history repeating itself here as I faced one of my favourite bowling characters, John "The Gentleman" Hanson here, just as I did two years ago. Based simply on the fact that I know I'm a better player now, I wouldn't say I thought I could win, but knew if I played as well as I can then it would give me a really good chance. 

We chatted before the game.  My loyalty to his upcoming Longridge Floodlit Singles competition was checked in. Then it was down to business on the green. 

I got off to a decent start and began to grow in confidence. I don't think John was on quite as good a form as our last meeting, but then again I was the player asking more of the questions this time around and managed to get him under pressure. 

On eighteen I had a little wobble. Stuck on that score the previous evening, I can't deny it got inside my head and John had started putting some real good ones up too. But thankfully tonight I broke back quickly and had not only had a decent game in this competition at last, but also won one.

............

During the time spent waiting to go back on, I kept myself relaxed and generally in good company, but not everybody was a positive influence. 

As soon as I came off against John, there was a strong implication from a spectating Gary Drake that I'd had an easier draw and that the green conditions suited me since everywhere has had a thorough dampening!

Still unsure if Gary is joking most of the time,

either way, I certainly didn't ask for his surmise but let's assume there's some truth in his remarks. Well, most disrespectful to John Hanson who is a very good seasoned bowler and qualified for finals night here two years ago. Secondly, I'd prefer a fast running green than a stiff one these days. But whatever, the conditions are what they are and the same for all players. 

I've grown used to coming to this competition and hear the same old "experts" cast judgments from the luxury of the greenside benches and huts. 

To be fair to Gary, another former finals night qualifier, he paid his entry fee and had a go last week. But not so in the case of local bowlers Roger Iddon and Kevin Topp. These two were actually quite insulting about my presence here tonight. 

As I touched on from previous attempts in this competition, Roger in particular is quite dismissive of lesser players such as myself putting themselves in the firing line against the big boys in singles competitions. 

What I feel is a tenacity for the sheer willingness to face more challenging experiences, Roger considers to be some sort of meaningless madness. 

Anyway Roger and Kevin happened to be together and in my space when they asked who I was playing next round...

"Peter Hawkes", I promptly replied.

There was a short pause before Roger and Kevin just chuckled away to each other. No words, no eye contact with me, there didn't need to be. I could see the proverbial thought bubbles above their heads which read, "You've fucking NO chance, lad!". 

So much for supporting the local fella having a go! 

This made me even more determined to put up a decent resistance against top player Peter. I mean getting through a round to play someone of this calibre was exactly what being there that night was all about for me. Roger in particular simply does not understand that mentality or the benefits that it can bring to your game.

...........

SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND 

v PETER HAWKES (Preston) L 13-21

Peter Hawkes has been in the top echelons of the game for decades. He's won stuff, he's still winning stuff and regularly gets to the latter stages of the many competitions he tours around to. I don't know his full CV, I've not been in the game long enough, but I've seen him play a few times on league nights when he represents Frenchwood and more often than not it's a masterclass. 

Respect for my opponent I most certainly had, but believing if I could just notch my game up a touch from the first round, I might he able to put up a fight. About to face the bowler known affectionately as "Chesney" for reasons only millennials might not understand, I was buzzing as we met at the mat. No nerves, just sheer (look fwd) to the challenge that lay ahead. 

Winning the toss, my lead bowl is short. Note to self it's slowed down even more. My second bowl is very well adjusted though and I settle down straight away. A couple more good leads and it's 3-0. Then I slip a lead too short and Peter's bowls magnetically rest on the jack as if I didn't know what I was up against. But I sent some quite incredible woods at times, notably stealing in when Peter had more than a right to think he'd done enough on quite a few occasions and also turning over to play through and make two when two down. Until the latter stages of the match, I was a constant threat. We went 8-8 and it was around that time an amazing round peg end saw my leading toucher tapped out, then I tapped Peter out again before he kissed mine out again and pushed through with tje jack to make two. I even said to him it was almost a pleasure to concede two there - but it turned out to be a crucial end.

Once Peter had nudged in front he was very difficult to reel back in. It was cat and mouse for a while. I'd get within two or three again and then either dip with my lead bowl or simply succumb to my opponent's class. I then struggled with length on a mark which frustratingly Peter wasn't exactly nailing to perfection himself, meanwhile the other way back over to the vegetable garden I was unlucky a few times not to sneak another pearler in but it wasn't to be and Peter had ran out to qualify for finals night.

He got me a pint and spent a bit of time with me, saying me how well I played. I was gushing to be honest, Peter really rated my performance and reckons if I can play to that level consistency I can win things. I mean I'm not sure about that, just reaching a finals night remains the immediate ambition as I told him. But Peter remained adamant, so I have to take the compliment and surf on the confidence that this night and his comments have given me. 

Of the greenside critics, Gary knew I'd put up a decent fight there and rightly pointed out what cost me, which was losing my length on a particular mark late in the game. 

Meanwhile the chuckle brothers of Iddon and Topp did manage to remark that I played well at least. After a thoroughly enjoyable and absorbing couple of matches tonight, my cake already had a cherry on top, but I must admit that to prove those two negative doubters wrong was an extra little dusting of icing sugar.

FURIOUS WITH MYSELF AT SLINGING AWAY A GOOD LEAD

Thursday 20th August 2026
Leyland & District League Div-1: Longton VM 'A' (175) 4-9 Eagle Blues (195)
v TIM SLINGER L 20-21

The bold and positive approach continued and looked set to make light work of the very experienced Tim. No pushover and certainly not on his own patch at Longton, I was playing really well but ended up absolutely bloody furious with myself for not cutting this game off before the sheer disbelief of it finally slipping away.

16-7, then 18-8 and it's not as if my mentality was to blame. Not for a fleeting moment did I prematurely think I'd bagged it, I remained focused but just couldn't find the big shot or even a bit of luck at times to break my opponent's steady fightback.

Cursing my own part in this demise, I shouldn't omit to compliment Tim's own part in grounding out a victory from the jaws of defeat. He led well and kept putting the bowls up which is all you can do in that position. Short marks across the middle were Tim's building blocks of putting me under pressure and whilst having no trouble understanding what was required, I was putting a little too much in and at times a bit unlucky not to hit something to benefit me. The green surface was a little saturated earlier on and had soaked up by this time, so perhaps the lightbulb hadn't pinged and frustration started to creep in to cloud my rational thinking.

18-19 now and finally I broke the spell and landed one. Next end I round peg to the far corner and land a toucher, but Tim had put in a close second to make it a little risky going for two on the same road. Now bowling for the match with jack in hand, I could blame my subsequent short lead or overcooked second that on another day might have tickled the jack my way, but ultimately it was the decision making that cost me the game. Reverting to straight peg and in a direction of the green where I had been latterly struggling for pace, there was a lack of wisdom on my part and with only myself to blame, easy pickings for Tim who mopped up with two length bowls.

The mat went flying (fortunately just shy of the social club roof) the jack got a booting and so did my bowls. Talk of shoving my head through the nearest window began, although anything nearby was triple glazed by the looks of it. Whilst such reactionary talk remains purely hypothetical, I later discussed the realities of window tupping with Nigel, saying there's only one winner against triple glazing and as a former glazer himself at one time, Nige warned that a single pane might well lacerate my neck and recommended wearing a scarf. Never a dull conversation on a bowls night.

Once the rage subsided a bit as I was distracted by marking Margy's card, the piss taking began with Colin reporting flying saucers during his match (the mat) and Phil announcing, "Helmets off lads! It's safe again", when asking if I'd calmed down 😆

They know what I'm like and I think they understand. 

Fortunately my personal disappointment had little bearing on our team's successful evening with six winners and chalks scooping an excellent nine away points to leave us with every chance of holding on to eighth spot.

At the top of the table meanwhile, Chorley St Joseph's had a fantastic 9-4 win at leaders and double champions Lostock Hall Cons. Just three points separate the two sides with one to play. St Joe's host Bretherton and with so much at stake you would fancy them to stack some points up. Lostock visit relegated Hoghton, but that's a tricky place to go with the pressure on. It could end up very close indeed. 

BACK TO BEING BOLD AND POSITIVE

Monday 17th August 2026
Chorley & District League Div-2: Eagle & Child 'A' (139) 3-8 Anderton St Joseph's (147)
v MICK ROSCOE W 21-12

Starting this game positively, making sure I reach up and get my arm working fluently was the main aim and did me no harm, getting off to a strong start and leaving my opponent with a chase on his hands. Leading 15-5, a few ends I wasn't happy with but generally in good form and putting the leads up. 

I could see Mick was far from a pushover though and he rallied well to break up my dominance, particularly as a deluge of summer rain took hold, but I was still picking up enough bits and bobs to see the game out without getting twitchy. On the last end Mick was holding two, but I ran through to take the jack with a very satisfying hit, finishing the match off just like Henry finished me off last Friday. What goes around comes around in this game. 

A poor evening from a team point of view with only three points collected in a home fixture and Anderton passing us in third place after this win. Coppull away last game is unlikely to be very fruitful, so a top half finish from a cluster of six teams all very close is probably as good as it will get. 

HENRY JUST TOO HOT

Friday 17th August 2026
Eagle & Child Arthur Parker President's Day Trophy
Qualifying Round
v HENRY HOYLES L 13-21 (both off -1)

Another difficult to draw to get through to qualify for President's Day and expecting nothing less than a tough game against young Henry. 

On paper, I was arguably the marginal favourite perhaps, but taking nothing at all for granted I nevertheless didn't quite foresee taking such a battering. 

Having played soundly the previous evening, more of that would have given me every chance. But this game descended in to a repetition of Monday night's helplessness and subsequent admiration for Carl Whitfield, and then some.

It was exhibition stuff from our club's youngest talent, which, combined with my own rather disappointing show for a large portion of the match, made for a completely one-sided affair and in a real pickle with the scores at 4-18. 

Henry was relentless and dictated for such a long period. I was actually 3-1 up early doors before the fifteen year old got in to his top groove, playing as consistently well as I have seen him - and as my teammate in both league teams I play for - I've seen quite a bit of him. His leads were bob-on and playing sime tricky marks too, his second bowl just as much of a nuisance and I was conceding hurtful twos at an alarming rate.

Henry gained more and more confidence as the game went on. A couple of opportunities to break his momentum were wasted with poor second bowls to back up the first and he punished me for those as well. The heat was on, all eyes of a good turnout were watching this last match on the green and as expected, were mainly partisan for the youngster to succeed. 

When finally he bodged an end and I mopped up an easy two, Henry's domination was broken but not his threat. Two really good ends got me back to 11-19, but then I inexplicably went narrow with my lead on a mark I've played well hundreds of times and once again Henry punished me. It took a very decent second bowl to save the match. I then broke back again with another close twosome and they had to be, before sending two really lovely ones round peg in to the entrance corner - now potentially lying 15-19 and thinking this could get interesting. But Henry gives me the sign he's going to play through and with power and precision smacked everything off the green and I could do nowt but join in a rapturous round of applause that resonated around the whole ground. 

Holy shit, what a bloody good hit that was!

Trying to stretch him out again down to the pavillion edge where I had a bit of joy a few ends earlier, this time I just overcooked the jack and it wobbled it's way to the gutter. Back to being frustrated and annoyed with myself, Henry sends us on a straightish mark and I initially somehow miss the land, but my second one counts. Then here he comes again, this time with less vigour but equal brilliance to play through and take the jack with him. 

I made a fight of it to some degree in the end, but there can be no denying Henry was excellent and thoroughly deserved the win.

In my sixth season of crown green, this result condemns me to the sidelines on President's Day for the first time. It's disappointing to say the least, but note to self - this is still a very good season I'm having, so dust yourself down again and stay positive going in to my next match.

KEEPING THE PRIVETT TRIMMED BACK

Thursday 13th August 2026

Leyland & District League Div-1: Eagle Blues (187) 9-3 Farington BC 'B' (156)

v JEAN PRIVETT W 21-9

A nervy start during the early exchanges of this one. Land and length, or both, were off skew and Jean was leading well. Doubts had crept in. 

At 0-4 though I finally landed a bowl that felt good as it left my hand and I was in to the game. 

I improved as the game went on and started to send some good twos which stretched out a gap on the scorecard. 

It would be fair to say that the odd knock went against Jean. On one particular close end where she tapped me in, the patron saint of bad luck, Gary Drake, was nearby to witness my good fortune. He couldn't say too much more as my bold second bowl squeezed in for two though.

Having played Jean a few years ago here and somehow turning around a large deficit to win, I had an idea of what marks she liked and which ones could force errors. I managed to break her spell early enough this time and take control. Jean rallied late on with a good run but by limiting her to singles, little damage done before managing to finish the job.

With seven home winners overall, this turned out to be an important team win against our local rivals, ensuring we stay above them in ninth place and level on points with St George's for eighth place to now chase down with two to play.

BULLIED

Monday 10th August 2026
Chorley & District League Div-2: Eagle & Child 'A' (153) 8-2 Westhoughton 'A' (119)
v CARL WHITFIELD L 13-21

Bullied. That's what I said to my opponent, that's what I said to my team as I came off and it sums up a difficult evening that put an end to a good run of satisfactory performances. 

Rather like my ramble about running form, when the bowling is going well too, it's just another perch to be eventually knocked off. 

In this match I was simply outclassed so it's the next match and the one after that which will determine whether this was a blip or a slump, but win or lose I need to play a more consistent game than this one. 

Carl needed no assistance to take control of the match, but I handed it with a poor start, unable to find a length and get a feel for the pace of the green, my opponent was getting them unnecessarily close and at something like 2-10 I knew some sort miracle was required. The miracle didn't happen, but after a few text book tantrums, kicking my woods in the gutter and chucking the mat, I restored a bit of pride and the latter half of the game scored 11-11. But aside from one sorry end, I had to land damn good bowls to squeeze anything out of Mr Whitfield.

When I have been done over at the Eagle this year it's tended to be a bit of a battering and whilst I've taken harder hits on the scorecard than tonight, this was as accomplished a performance that I've ever faced on my home green. By no means one dimensional, Carl sweetly stroked them out all over the green and rarely spared much of a gap to play in to. Impressive to say the least.

A disappointing night, but I can't let it get under my skin. For all the frustrations with myself earlier on in the game, I needed to be on top form with brass knobs on to have had any chance of pushing this fella further. Quite literally if you gave him an inch he would take the mile.

Carl is also a player in top form himself. His demolition of a very good player Andy Lund last week would be evidence of that. 

At least it turned out to be a good night for the team with six winners which puts us back up to third place with that six point gap to second placed Hesketh Bank. 

Two matches left, if we can have another good win at home next week and Hesketh Bank bonk at Black Horse, on paper it could look interesting. But then away at Coppull last game is no place to go with flighty ambition so I think finishing third would be a decent achievement for our team.

I DIDN'T EVEN SAY IT OUT LOUD

Running fitness in 2026 has felt good and the steadiest period for many years. As I have surely rambled on about before, there's sometimes a moment or a particular run when you feel on top of everything. That dangerous place where the joy of the present is nulled by the fear of the near future. Maybe getting carried away and getting an injury niggle, or catching a bad cold or something, anything that is going to knock you off your perch. 

I had such a run and feelings on an otherwise inoccous three miler to the Cumbrian village of Lindale, near to where we were on a long camping weekend. On the back of a tougher run the day before, I wasn't hanging about and yet it felt easy, plenty left in the tank and in good shape for a longer run up Hampsfell the following day.

I knew I felt good, I only thought it though. I didn't actually say it out loud and sod's law... a calf strain crept up on me that evening. Recurring, but minor, could probably jog through it but disappointed to accept that the Hampsfell run was now out of the question. 

Much worse was to come though. The morning after, my back creased and as bad as it's been for the best part of a decade. Unrelated to running, perhaps because I slept on my front overnight which is always lethal. I couldn't even stand up straight for a few days. 

From feeling 32 at 52, I was shuffling around feeling more like 92 within the space of 12 hours. 

Ibuprofen and avoiding long periods sat down just about got me through a bowls match a couple of days later that perhaps wasn't advisable. A gingerly act of survival at work followed, before another planned weekend away and the strange experience of waking up barely able to walk properly before quickly loosening up enough to walk some decent mileage and summits around Great Langdale. Grateful to be able to get up there as ever, but more so this time given the delicate nature of my back.

Still tender, running again now at least and hopefully the road to recovery. 

So if I am running quite well, which I still am despite a week out, I'm not even going to THINK I'm running well, let alone say it. Having said that, I've just typed as such, which in itself is an acknowledgement but hopefully won't further provoke the curse!

I'VE GONE AND MENTIONED THE 'C' WORD

Thursday 6th August 2026

Leyland & District League Div-1: St George's Institute (192)  8-4 Eagle Blues (162)

v HARRY RADCLIFFE W 21-14

I was looking forward to this second visit to St George's in Chorley - it's a funky green to say the least. Full of undulations, troughs, ridges and not a straight forward mark on the whole playing surface. 

Whilst starting to get to grips with it too late to save my game here last year, I nevertheless enjoyed playing it.

This game with Harry started out like two elite bowlers thrashing it out. Brilliantly close ends and each of us having to find something class to get a score. That level had to give a little and of course it did. Whilst the match had a few scrappy ends it still remained a really good contest and I was generally pleased with how I played again. As probably the more consistent of the two of us, this helped build up a small lead. A few well placed twos caught Harry out and stamped my mark on a game that had looked like it could go to the wire. Whilst it's never over until it's over, the all important 'c' word and mysterious power - confidence - told me I would get to twenty-one first. 

Lately I have found much more patience in my game and a better mental endurance. Starting the season in the fine form that I did, coming out of the subsequent mid-season wobble and mini-meltdown, I feel I have returned to form even stronger. Whether results continue to keep going my way or not, there is a confidence in how I am going to play just now and yet without the feeling of putting myself under pressure. 

Four winners for our team tonight wasn't a bad result here and I was happy to share the sweep with birthday boy Colin Proctor. We are safe from any relegation issues and have three games left from which we should be looking to try and recover a couple of places in the table.

SENIOR MOMENTS MAKE FOR A HARD FOUGHT GAME

Monday 3rd August 2026
Chorley & District League Div-2: Hoghton (162) 9-1 Eagle & Child 'A' (95)
v CHRIS MILLER SNR W 21-15

Chris Miller Senior is a grand and genuine sort of chap who would be the first to admit he's not the most difficult opponent on the esteemed Hoghton card  these days. 

But despite a record that doesn't collect too many wins at this level, he put up a really good fight to make sure my fourth visit to Hoghton was as uncomfortable as usual. 

Initially I was hanging on to Chris thanks to some really good adjustments, but my first bowl was letting me down and my opponent was punishing me for it. 

Chris Miller Junior was marking the card and remarked that this was the best his Dad had played all season. He certainly had his moments and put some excellent bowls up, but I managed to stick with him and on hearing 14-14 had just started to put a few good lead bowls together and finally started to swing the game in my favour. A couple of well placed twos helped to create a gap in the scores when it mattered. 

I'm not sure I'll ever fully understand the green at Hoghton but each visit brings a little more enlightenment for the next one. I survived this evening with a bad back too so a decent result all in all.

Chris revealed afterwards he has downsized and dropped weight with some new bowls and this was the third outing without his name old 2.10's. I'd say a good move in this evidence. 

Hoghton top the division and battered us tonight to more or less seal promotion. A night to forget for the Eagle players, but everyone at the green that night will remember Andy Seel and Michelle Anderton unable to keep the jack on from a tricky area on this narrow green that forced them in to either of the fast corners to get a length. No fewer than nine attempts between these two before the jack finally stayed on the green... just.

I don't know what the record is, but that's got to be up there!

BUZZING ABOUT THIS ONE

Thursday 30th July 2026

Leyland & District League Div-1: Eagle Blues (195) 10-2 Hoghton (118)

v RICHARD LATHAM W 21-7

Starting this game with possibly the worst, most pathetically short and narrow twosome I've sent all season, I couldn't have possibly considered for one fleeting moment that it would end up one of my best performances of the season. Things looked even more ominous next end when I knocked Richard back in when going greedy to get that two back straight away, but after that I settled down and was confident I could at least give this fella a game again.
Having met earlier in the season in the Chorley League and hanging on to him before taking a nervy deciding final end, I was ready for another intense battle this evening. I'm not sure Richard was extra revved up for revenge as I expected though, introducing himself at the mat as if we'd never met before. Maybe that match back in May was a game he wanted to forget. He might want to forget this one too.
Our green was running again tonight, dried out and freshly cut - just my cup of tea. Having reversed that suspect start to lead 5-4, I then went on a break and confidence began to soar. When I finally lost the jack I got it straight back with a great bowl and then once again, this time lucky as my bowl slowly kissed off both of Richard's and I hear the score at 16-6. A couple more occasions I had the rub when Richard returned the favour to knock mine up and also played through a gap that didn't look possible. But generally, this was a score well earned. I got on top and kept up the pressure.

Even with such a good lead I tried to almost erase that fact from my mind because I was in a good place, putting up some really good woods and my lead bowls were excellent most of the time. I also felt Richard was still a big threat. Seeing the game out in a similar manner, this was one hell of a result against a really good player and there's no point trying to play it cool. I was well pleased with how I played and was buzzing about it. 
It turned out to be a long overdue cracking result for our team too. Eight winners and ten points is a massive boost to strengthen our lately weakening status of first division consolidation.
Hoghton again Monday for the return fixture in the Chorley League and a one in eight chance of a third meeting with Richard, surely not? For me, to beat him twice of late is quite a feat. On his home green though would be a totally different challenge altogether. Surprisingly this year Richard has yet to find success in an away game in this league, but he's taken seven wins from eight at home and mainly convincing ones.