What a difference!

Tatman Cup second round, away against Hemingford's finest and best. Similar format to Thursday Men's League, being three rinks each team of four players with two bowls. Winner is most total bowls scored. EBF rules, so only bowls within a yard count, and no live jack in the ditch. The format always seems to bring out a close result. The first round was a draw requiring an extra end to be played.

The green is just that... green. In fact, faultlessly green, the blades of grass so tight packed there's a slight spring when you walk. The greenkeeper is watering twice a day. No surprise the going is heavy compared to anything else around.

I'm playing third with three A Team players. We're ahead for the first half of the match. Same on one of the other rinks. Our third rink is behind by a small margin. If we keep this up we'll be in the third round. By the middle of the match it's all change. We're still winning, but not on the other two rinks. As the end approaches, going to be really close.

Our skip is playing a magnificent game. Best I've ever seen. Hardly a bowl wrong. Whenever we leave him with a difficulty shot, he makes it. No wonder he's current Club champion and in the late stages of multiple County and National Competitions.

On one end we're four down with no real options. With our skip's last bowl he drives the jack into the ditch and kills the end. As a result the end has to be replayed, so we're slightly behind the other rinks.

With the other rinks watching, we come into our final end. Hemingford are three up overall, and one ahead on our rink. So we need to score four. As our skip plays his last bowl that looks unlikely since they're sitting with three. But there's a slight chance, if he can get between two front bowls and play a yard on to where we have back bowls. Plays it perfectly, but we only score three. We lose the match by a single bowl!

Great camaraderie. Exciting bowls. As different as chalk and cheese from yesterday's Men's Fours league match... without the cheese. No tea after, so no cheese and ham rolls. Phew!

Happy with my contribution. Got more than half into the head. Some bowls spot on target. Line a bit narrow as the evening drew in and going got heavier.