More frustration!

Mixed pairs semi-final this evening, against one of the top lady Club members. Best of three sets, each of seven ends. Important to get a good start.

My opponent's jack, which she rolls to medium length. The first end sets the theme for the whole match. Her first very close to the jack, my first knocks her out, her next squeezes in closer still. I gain a single, same on the second end. There's nothing in it as we go into the last end at 4-4. At the critical point none of my four bowls are close enough. Three to her and the first set.

Second set off to a good start with two to me. Next three to her. Four to me. Just can't get enough margin for safety. Some really good bowls being delivered by us both. As we come to the final end I'm two ahead. Surely that's enough. But after two bowls each I'm two down. My penultimate bowl is narrow, hers too long. My last needs to be good. Narrow again! My opponent bowls her last for shot. Three to her and I lose the match.

Why where those crucial two last bowls narrow? Because I failed to keep my head down at the end of the deliveries. Stupid!

One more drawn pairs semi-final to go, plus the Triples Championship won. And an appearance on Finals Day in the Men's Two Bowls. But with this evening being the third exit in a week from a Club competition, could have been so much better! Here's the scorecard.