Stupid strategy

Over 60s round one Club competition this evening. Four bowls each, played over sixteen ends. Against the same opponent played on Friday. Won that 21-7, so this evening should be a foregone conclusion, shouldn't it?

We're on rink five. Playing one of the top Club players next Monday in the Men's Two Bowls first round. I know he likes rink five. I also know he plays a medium jack. So in spite of long ends being my route to a comprehensive win last Friday, I'm playing medium length jacks for practise.

All going well. Feeling in control. Getting a bit tight with two ends to go, 13-12 ahead. Just need a couple on the penultimate end to make sure. Of course, that's when my opponent decides to have his end of the match. Three bowls right against the jack. I'm forced onto the narrow hand. Very narrow. So narrow, I haven't really got the line all evening. So twice I miss trailing the jack to my back bowls by an inch. And suddenly I'm 13-15 down as we go into the final end.

Short jack, his favourite. His first bowl right on the jack. Another two close. All my bowls are just behind. Again I'm left trying to play a yard-on to trail the jack to one of my back bowls to score two and go level for a deciding extra end. Again I miss by an inch. Lose the match 13-17.

On Friday, when so far ahead, I considered playing medium length jacks for practise. Decided against it. 'Keep focused', thought I. So why practise this evening right from the start? And in a competition with limited ends where it's really important to maintain a decent lead? Stupid! Won't EVER NEVER do that again! Here's the scorecard.