Searching for positive signs

Solo practice this evening. Suffering withdrawal symptoms. Not played since Friday, next game on Thursday evening. And on Friday got my first County competition, Two Bowls Singles at Papworth.

This evening's result not at all good. Less than 50% within three feet. Then realise why. I've set the rink up with two jacks, one short, the other medium/long. For some reason been placing a mat behind the jack so if it gets moved can easily reposition it. That means when bowling, whilst for odd ends that mat is a few yards away, for even ends it's quite near. Very off putting!

A bit more analysis proves the point. For the nine odd numbered ends from 1 to 17, where the mat and jack were some distance away, 24 out of 36 bowls were within three feet. That's 66% within a yard. If I'd achieved that on the even ends too, would have been my best result ever.

To prove the point, as I bowled end eighteen, my last even end, all four bowls were within a yard. Been nowhere near that on any other even end. The difference? The mat and jack for odd ends had been removed. Last year I was using beermats. Will be going back to that on my next solo session. And not counting this evening's result for the progress chart.

Might sound a bit desperate, but need maximum boost for Friday. My opponent was runner-up in last year's competition. Gulp! Here's this evening's scorecard.