Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

Men's Handicap semi-final this evening. Got the second highest handicap of 8. Playing the highest handicapper at 9. I've got to get to 21, him to 22.

Bit of mind gaming at the start as I win the toss and we agree to two trial ends. Played lead against my opponent in the Drawn Pairs quarter-final and struggled when he moved the mat right up the green. Been practising that move for this very evening. So for my trial end, move the mat up the green, jack two metres from the opposing ditch, my second bowl right on the jack. Hoping to puzzle him with a sign his main defence tactic won't work.

Although in past seasons I've struggled to get up to speed in the first few ends, fast starts have been one of my advantages this year. This evening is no different. My opponent is consistently slightly too heavy, so I'm rolling the jack to a medium length. Win seven of the first nine ends to go 13-3 ahead.

Then things change dramatically. He's got the jack. With the mat four metres up, jack four metres from the opposing ditch, his length has dramatically improved. I'm still getting close, but slightly short with too many bowls. The next five ends to him and the gap narrowed, 13-11 to me.

Realise I'm not taking a short step forward on delivery, something implemented to help with weight and accuracy. As soon as this is corrected things improve and win two of the next three, now 15-12 to me.

The final five ends are a blaze of superb bowling from my opponent. Getting at least one bowl up to the jack, but no matter what I do he knocks me out or trails the jack to his advantage. Drop six on the final two ends. In both cases sitting with at least one shot bowl. Each time with a yard-on he repositions the jack amongst his bowls just behind.

Bit frustrated at the short bowls in the middle of the match. Without those might have gained a couple of wins in the five ends between ten and fourteen. Even single bowl wins at that point and the score would have been 17-10 by end seventeen, the pressure on my opponent much greater. On such small differences do bowls matches hang. Lesson learned for my quarter-final on Tuesday and semi-final on Wednesday. Here's the scorecard.