Surgery required?

First of my club competition matches this afternoon against Tony, another member of the men's B league team. Drawn him in three of the six singles competitions, with a possibility of four if he wins his preliminary round in the Handicap Cup. So whoever won this first fixture should have a psychological advantage for the rest.

We agreed to play the Non Winners competition first. Best of three sets, each of seven ends. And from the first set score of 10-3 to me you'd think I was playing great bowls. Not at all. Neither of us played well, Tony struggling even more than I was and bowling everything short.

In the second set my bowling got better. Only trouble was, my opponent was ahead of me. Looks bad I gave away four in the ninth end, but I had bowls near the jack. Unfortunately Tony had all four of his right up against the jack. Second set to him 9-1.

In the deciding set we both played our best bowls of the match. But still Tony was just that inch or two better and was three up with four ends to play. Then I remembered about the trick to ensure you bowl with a straight arm, to imagine a steel rod through my elbow. I took the last four ends and the match.

Why do I keep forgetting the steel rod trick? It wasn't that I was bowling narrow without it, but I do find it difficult to get bang on the right line if I don't use it. Maybe I'll have to put a real steel rod in my bowls bag to remind me.

Or maybe get one surgically implanted.

Here's the scorecard...