Getting nervous!

Men's Two Bowls quarter-final this evening. My opponent a good A Team player. It's currently 1-1 in past meetings. He knocked me out of this competition in last year's semi-final, when I should have been home and dry. Determined not to make the same mistake this time.

The first quarter not going too well. Down 2-7 by the sixth end. Then start to get a better line and pull back to 8 - 9 on the eleventh end. We're tied 13-13 by the eighteenth. Manage to open up and maintain a gap right up to the twenty-third end. Then drop to consecutive maximum score ends. Really in trouble at 18-20.

Looks like curtains on the twenty-sixth end when my opponent puts his first bowl close. I manage to get one inside and nearer to the jack. His second is slighter longer at the back. My second gets inside that as well. Two to me and 20-20.

Sudden death now. Medium jack. My first is wayward. His first right on and in front of the jack. Try to push his bowl out, just miss. It's a 20-21 win to my opponent.

Neither of us played on top form, but such a close match hugely enjoyable. Two bowls always comes with heightened drama. A first bowl close to the jack puts huge pressure on your opponent. A loose first bowl and that pressure is on you for your second.

Getting somewhat nervous. Only remaining singles competition is the Men's Four Bowls. At least that's the Club's top event. Got the quarter-final to fix up for next week. Should get into the semi-final. Still in both pairs competitions. Just got to make Finals Day!

Here's the scorecard from this evening (click to enlarge).