Nothing to do with financial matters, simply a way of letting you know that I wore a red shirt for bowls over the last two days, playing with Steve Felgitscher and Neville Turnbull in the KCBC Open Triples at Central Levin. (Originally, Selwyn Riwaka was part of the team but had to drop out, so I was filling in.)
Yesterday we won our first two games, thus qualifying for post-section play, and then had to play another Levin team, Grant Pratt, Noel McCutcheon and Omeka Feaunati, who had had one win only at that stage and needed a further one to also qualify. This like our other games, was a close tussle, but unfortunately for them, we managed another win.
Fourteen teams qualified for today’s games and we were drawn to play the team we had beaten in our second round game yesterday, Jim Adams, Peter Phillips and Grant Wylie from Central Levin.
Again this was a close match, but needing two to win on the last end, we just missed out, dropping another point.
The result could have been so different if a drive from Neville had the result it deserved. We were four down when he drove and his bowl was right on target, hitting the jack. Back it went towards the ditch, but unfortunately, it hit a back bowl and bounced back into the head …. and we were still three down.
I often hear comments about Neville and his driving, mainly that he does it too often, and certainly, he did drive on occasions over the last two days, but in all cases, it was the appropriate shot, and on most occasions were very successful. Steve and I had so – so days and often our skip had to come to the party to save us, and this Neville did on many occasions, mainly with draws and the occasional drive.
I spoke to a player who played with Neville for a number of years and he made the comment that no mater how badly you were playing, he never indicated by word or gesture how difficult you were making things and this is still very true, something that other players could copy. All bowlers are doing their best, but sometimes things just don’t seem to be working … and one doesn’t need the skip to tell you.
For me it was an interesting experience playing again in a Centre event, something that I haven’t done for a number of years and it was a challenge playing competitive teams.
I hope it is fine again tomorrow and I can have a relaxed afternoon playing in the Mini-gala at our club, something to look forward to.