Monkstone Muskateers - Away

In what felt like no time at all we were back at Pen Y Lan bowls club to play another Monkstone team. This time we were playing in the quarter finals of the national plate competition.

It was slightly quieter there than last night, with us being the only team playing. We felt quietly confident after winning both our league games the night before.

It was a close opening four ends with it being honours even at 2-2, with just single shots winning each end. Just like the night before we got to grips with the hard gravel and picked up a four to put some daylight. We continued to pile on the pressure, with Dawn finding a first good boule more often than not, and we eased to a 13-2 win. We looked across to the other piste where Carl was playing with Paul. They were 12-2 up. We thought we could kill this cup tie at half time in effect. They promptly dropped a five. How important would that be? You will win most often than not when you get to 12 first and the other team is still short. They duly did and won 13-7. We had ten shots to play with in the second half, even if we lost both games.

Me and Dawn were on for our sixth consecutive win, the successful streak going back to the Penarth game. It was one game to far. We really didn't help matters by starting really badly .. we were 7-0 in no time at all. The other pair were in a close battle, but it was still early doors. We decided to stop playing the piste and start playing the scoreboard. We took our ones when we were holding. We scratched our way to 10-3 down and the other side had managed to get to five shots. We were nearly there. They then picked up the four to get us home and dry so we decided just to play out our game. We lost 13-3 but Carl and Paul won 13-3.

So we salvage something from this season. We are in finals day.

We alas can't play in that as we are away. Hopefully the rest of our team can give it a shot and we may get something to show for a lot of effort this season.

It's been a great two nights down in Pen Y Lan, they were impeccable hosts. We have to visit there for the last game of the season in a fortnight. I suspect me and Dawn will be down there watching or playing.

I'm going to miss the petanque season when it's over!