Bombed

Mixed Singles Club competition match this evening. My opponent a dangerous B team player whose form can vary from brilliant to average. Beat him comfortably when we played last year, but the format this evening is best of three sets, each of seven ends. Not my favourite. He beat me in this competition three years ago and I lost in the final last year.

His choice of rinks. Decides on two. Uh ho... that's supposed to be the trickiest rink of all. Does he know that? Appears not from the start. He's four up after three ends and bowling well. I'm struggling to find the line. Win the next by one, but the following two are embarrassingly easily to him. First set conceded 1-10.

Still struggling in the second set. One hand has no bend whatsoever, but try bowling straight to the jack and it suddenly appears and leaves you wide. The other has a wicked curve. My opponent doesn't have a problem. He's playing great bowls. Close up to the jack. Whenever I get shot bowl he knocks me out. Very frustrating! The second set is even worse. I conced after just five ends 1-10 down again. The match is his, two sets to nil.

Struggling to understand my sudden loss of form after playing so well in the previous two days. Having written about suffering withdrawal symptoms, maybe games on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and again today mean I've lost my edge. Doesn't seem to have bothered my opponent though. He's played all the same matches and the social roll up this afternoon! Possibly some rinks are unplayable depending on the bias of your bowls. Got five days until the next on Wednesday. Maybe the break will do me good.

Here's the scorecard from this evening and the updated singles performance for the season below.