On the up (at last!)

County Men's Senior Pairs match this evening, away at Fenstanton Bowls Club. Two bowls each, played over twenty-one ends. I'm skip. This is a second round match. We got a bye in the first round.

It's an interesting place to find, down multiple country lanes. Must be one of the noisiest bowls clubs in the country, just yards away from the thundering A14. The green is very 'agricultural'. Some bare patches and interesting bumps and wobbles.

Might be a crazy thing to do, but I've decided to try a different delivery for this match. Recent results have been so poor, I've reasoned it probably won't make my form any worse. Worth the gamble for an improvement. So I'm adopting a more traditional standing start, step forward and stoop to launch the bowl. The logic? Having a terrible struggle getting the right line, maybe because my previous crouch down delivery makes it more difficult to judge. Start from a loftier position and the line might be clearer.

Seems okay in the trial ends. Definitely okay on end one. Almost a maximum length jack. My opposite number plays his first to rest touching the left hand side of the jack. My first knocks his out. One to us. End two and they're sitting with two. My first doesn't quite knock their shot bowl out firmly enough. My second carries the jack through to score two for us. 

Bang on line on any hand. Standing square to the delivery line encourages a few seconds thought before action. And after delivery, standing back up again, I get the clearest comparison of thought to actual result. Think I like the change in delivery style! 

As the temperature drops and the lines exaggerate outwards, I find the new stance helps me adjust more quickly. And the length isn't bad either. Easier to get to a full length jack.

We win the eighteen end with two. Eleven behind, it's still mathematically possible for the opposition to win the match with three maximum score ends. Nevertheless, they throw in the towel. A strong win, 22-11 to us. And on their green. A win in the next round will take us into the quarter-finals!

Here's the scorecard.