Cool bowling

National Top Club competition this morning, against Desborough Town Bowls Club. Two points per winning rink, with two bowls singles, four bowls singles, pairs, triples and fours. And I'm playing the two bowls singles. A whole 20% of the possible points riding on me winning. First to twenty-one, or twenty-one ends, whichever comes first.

The two of us are hardly providing exhibition bowls. Not much in it for the first half, my opponent pulls away to lead 5-10. With two ends to go, pull back to 12-13. Drop one to go 12-14 down as we play the last end. I'm holding one and deliver my last to tie the match... but no! Just inches too long, lose the match 13-14.

Looks a bit desperate for a time. We're losing the triples and fours. Win the four bowls singles and pairs easily. Fortunately our fours team turn things around. We win 6-4 in points. My scorecard below.

One thing I do notice is my opponent has a stainless steel cool water bottle. It's a baking day and the throwaway plastic bottle I have soon contains warm water. His keeps the contents cool for hours. So bagged a bargain at Sainsbury's. Sistema model shown above. Reduced from £12 to £9. Can pay as much as £15 for one. Really good.