Looking back, one can see where bad decisions may have caused a Skip the game. Patience is a part of Lawn Bowls which should be exercise freely. What looks bad may only be for the moment.
Playing an important game against the number 1 team, it was decided early; that that opponent's skip was dangerous as a heavy (takeout) and light (draw) bowler. As the game progressed they marked deuce after deuce in the first 5 ends.
By the 6th end the score was 9-1, and it was obvious that the opponents with their choice of jack position was not going to let up. Our immediate strategy was to take the jack and go long, which was their teams weakness. But after 5 short jack ends, we fought to discover this new long jack, while the opponents put everything within 2 feet of the jack. We had cutting point bowl, but with a single shot removal, I could see losing 3 points. Draw or roll into a steal of points ??
We had 4 back and another 4 on a forehand jack roll of 2 feet. Put a second shot into the head and maybe gain point or pick up a handful. With a 12 end game and approaching the half way point, it was felt the opportunity could not be refused. Go for the jack, heavy and enough for back bowls or the roll.
Well, of course, we again lost that end with a deuce and as if the skip was allowing us the opportunity with his lack of concern on a balanced head; I tried a steal of 3 or 4 again the next hand.
PATIENCE would have been wise back 4 or 6 points ago. Taking one point or maybe two and cutting that 9-1 lead down to a 9-8 game would have been a better decision than grabbing a handful. But now, as skip I was committed to "Steals" of 4 or so points because of the lack of remaining ends to play.
Of course, the game was lost in points and ends. Some competition, the ends won carry an important, and in this one total ends counted toward a tie breaker. Back at the 6th end Patience and getting the end and point would have been wiser then what seems like an opportunity.
Like the Rabbit and the Turtle race, maybe a point by point recovery gains more and builds the team confidence. Of course, after two attempted steals, the team began to show signs of discouragement as we saw the no-return score and attempted to just bowl a good game.
PATIENCE would not only have allow us to gain point by point and show a fairly good performance; but it also would unite the team with satisfaction at having played well even if lost. A big score lost might have even played into the following game. The final score was 19-5
Playing an important game against the number 1 team, it was decided early; that that opponent's skip was dangerous as a heavy (takeout) and light (draw) bowler. As the game progressed they marked deuce after deuce in the first 5 ends.
By the 6th end the score was 9-1, and it was obvious that the opponents with their choice of jack position was not going to let up. Our immediate strategy was to take the jack and go long, which was their teams weakness. But after 5 short jack ends, we fought to discover this new long jack, while the opponents put everything within 2 feet of the jack. We had cutting point bowl, but with a single shot removal, I could see losing 3 points. Draw or roll into a steal of points ??
We had 4 back and another 4 on a forehand jack roll of 2 feet. Put a second shot into the head and maybe gain point or pick up a handful. With a 12 end game and approaching the half way point, it was felt the opportunity could not be refused. Go for the jack, heavy and enough for back bowls or the roll.
Well, of course, we again lost that end with a deuce and as if the skip was allowing us the opportunity with his lack of concern on a balanced head; I tried a steal of 3 or 4 again the next hand.
PATIENCE would have been wise back 4 or 6 points ago. Taking one point or maybe two and cutting that 9-1 lead down to a 9-8 game would have been a better decision than grabbing a handful. But now, as skip I was committed to "Steals" of 4 or so points because of the lack of remaining ends to play.
Of course, the game was lost in points and ends. Some competition, the ends won carry an important, and in this one total ends counted toward a tie breaker. Back at the 6th end Patience and getting the end and point would have been wiser then what seems like an opportunity.
Like the Rabbit and the Turtle race, maybe a point by point recovery gains more and builds the team confidence. Of course, after two attempted steals, the team began to show signs of discouragement as we saw the no-return score and attempted to just bowl a good game.
PATIENCE would not only have allow us to gain point by point and show a fairly good performance; but it also would unite the team with satisfaction at having played well even if lost. A big score lost might have even played into the following game. The final score was 19-5
As a novice playing on teams with much more experienced bowlers, my number one complaint is that my team mates usually feel they can only get back into a game through their own extraordinary shots. Won't steady play and a gradual comeback sometimes cause the opponents to 'choke'? Trying for a big end and failing lets the other team relax and this can produce better bowls for them, n'est-ce pas?
ReplyDeleteWhat isa cutting point bowl, please?
ReplyDeleteSorry Clark saw comment 5 years later. A cutting point is that bowl which stops the count. 2md leaving only one point. It is important to never have only one as if removed it gives a big head count
ReplyDelete