Comes in threes

Over 60s semi-final this evening, played over sixteen ends. I'm learning from past seasons I can generally win through to several Club semi-finals. It's at that point you meet top players and it gets difficult. This evening's match is no different. But I've got previous, beating my opponent by some margin in last year's Mixed Singles quarter-final when he was obviously burned-out.

Bit surprised he asks for trail ends of four bowls each. Has he been away on holiday and not played for a while? Anything but. His jack, he plays long on the first end. All four of his bowls are inches behind. My first three are a couple of feet away. I'm in real trouble if I drop four on the first end. But my last bowl nudges just behind the jack too and millimetres in front of his shot bowl. One to me.

We trade ends and I build up a lead 9-5. Tried both very short and very long ends, but I'm getting most success when playing to his favourite medium length with the mat four metres up the green.

Drop three on the tenth end, but I'm giving as good as I get and win three on the next. Leading 13-9 with three to play, three single win ends aren't enough for him to recover. I win the match 13-12.

Melancholy thoughts. No more Club competition matches until Finals Day. No more Thursday evening Men's 4s league matches. No more Over 60s Triples on Wednesday afternoons. All signs that the 2017 outdoor season is fast drawing to a close. Less than four weeks to go to Closing Day. Then seven months of no bowling. Can hardly bear it.

On the positive side, looks like it might be my most successful season so far. Won the Club Triples in July. Making three appearances on Finals Day. Got the Biggleswade Battle to fix up against Kevin. And I'll be battling my brothers this Friday evening for the Harry Roscow Trophy.

Here's the scorecard from this evening.