Shocking start

League Triples knock out match this evening, against Hemingford. Four rinks of triples, the highest total bowls wins. I'm playing second.

It's a shocking start on our rink in more ways than one. We drop five on the first end and are 0-12 down within a few more. Clearly up against the best of Hemingford, my opponent is playing amazing draw bowls. Every delivery rolled right up to the jack. I'm not playing badly either, often managing to get two in the head. Very frustrating with the one, often the first, that is far too wide.

Just before the match we've had the first decent rain for two months. Thunder and lightning is rolling around the skies. At one point there's the biggest crack of thunder I've ever heard and everyone feels the air pressure shock. That was a close one! Heavy rain sends us all running for cover.

Ten minutes later and play resumes. More light rain and thunder. Like a game of chicken, no-one wants to be the first to leave the green. We play on throughout, seeking assurance that we're surrounded by high metal floodlights and the metal roof of the clubhouse. Surely they're more likely to get hit than my spec frames.

Playing on a damp green again is a lovely experience. My bowls are the better for it. No surprise our opponents go a bit off the boil; would be hard for them to keep up such a high standard. Gradually we creep back, scanning across the green to total up the score. St Ives are winning by two bowls ... every delivery counts!

On our rink we lose 12-18. In the latter half of the game we scored twelve to their six. If only we had got a bowl in on that first end! Hemingford wins overall by a few bowls.