We're in the semi finals!

Geoff thought we were up against it in this morning's club pairs quarter final, being the highest score after eighteen ends. I didn't doubt that for a moment since one of the pair we were playing was my first ever opponent in a club competition a few weeks previously. He'd thrashed me 21-4 then, so I definitely had something to prove.

Geoff played lead bowl this time, his favourite position. I was happy with that since it would give me a bigger target to aim for, with eight bowls already surrounding the jack.

Started well, with my last bowl of the first end needing to be a drive to break up what was for them at least one wood right up against the jack. Up to now I've never been able to judge a drive properly... rolling it really hard means the bowl curves less in its path towards the jack, so it's hard to judge. This time I was bang on target and hit the jack, but they still went one shot up.

From the sixth end Geoff and I really took off and ended the match comfortable winners 17-7 after the seventeenth end, ending early since they couldn't catch us in the remaining end.

It was the first match I've played where I really felt most of the bowls were going where I intended, making it even more exciting to see each wood slowly make it's path towards the jack. Helped a lot too, knowing Geoff had already put our opponents under pressure with his first four woods.

Must have improved noticeably since my first competition match... the player who'd previously thrashed me asked if I'd be interested playing for the club's indoor league team over winter!

Semi final here we come!

Lesson learned : Only frustration was some of my bowls tended to be short, so must bowl longer in future. Much better to be long... if the jack is hit my bowl at the back may come into play.