Right down to the wire

Another knockout team competition this evening, the Tatman Cup. There's money for the winners. This is an early round. Usual team format. Three rinks, each side four players with two bowls. Twenty-one ends, winner the highest total bowls. We're playing against Eynesbury Bowls Club, who organise and fund this competition.

On our rink we're ahead for the first half. The opposition then creep back with multiple short ends. It's a busy evening on the green, with the Ladies Triples team taking up another two rinks and a Club Pairs competition on the final rink. So we have to scan across the green to assess the status. Going to be close.

As we play our final end, going to be really close! The other two rinks have finished. We won one by five and the other drew. They're still on the green watching us finish. We're three down and the opposition are lying with two. The skips don't change the head, so it's an overall draw. Each rink has to play an extra end. Fortunately we win by one on all three rinks, victory to us!

Really enjoyable. Great spirit between the two teams. Real pleasure watching our skip play. He's the current National Two Bowls Champion. Amazing presence on the green. Huge focus as he delays a few seconds before delivering each shot. Such a smooth delivery. Hardly a wasted bowl.

Playing lead, really contributed in the first half. Most bowls within a foot or so of the jack. As good as I've ever played. But in the second half, as the temperature dropped, all over the place. Lost the line. Very frustrating!