How frustrating!

County two bowls singles match this evening, first to twenty-one. Playing away at Hemingford Bowls Club. My opponent a top County player. Current Champion of Champions title holder. Regular County competition winner since he was Under 25 Champion. Aren't there any 'easy' matches in County competitions?

Might as well not be there for the first ten ends. Chosen the hand with the widest curve, but I'm getting nowhere with it. So wide of the mark it's embarrassing, 1-15 down.

Then try the narrower hand. In fact, it's the hand my opponent has been using throughout. Why didn't I take that as a clue? And suddenly I'm getting some success. Initially keeping pace. Then, at 5-19 down, I string five out of six ends of maximum scores. It's 15-20 and he's starting to worry.

But all he needs is one close shot, which he gets on end twenty-four. Both my bowls are very close and normally would have scored me another two. But he's rolled his up against the jack. Lose the match 15-21.

Counting from end eleven onwards, the score was 14-6 to me. Pity it took me so long to get started. Just got to learn from the experience... pay careful attention to which hand your opponent prefers when playing away!

Here's the scorecard.