All of the teams gathered in the hotel meeting room for the awards ceremony. There had been a gathering almost every night in the meeting room for dinner and some camaradarie. This being the final night, I was introduced to the tradition of trading of team jerseys and jackets. The USA uniform stands out and there are many who are hoping to get a jersey or jacket. This is a nice tradition and every USA member could find a taker if they wanted to.
Personally I traded one of my jerseys to a gentleman from the Netherlands team, and another jersey to the Zambia team. Besides the South African team, they were the only African team there and becasue we were near them alphabetically, we ended up spending time near each other on the buses and the opening ceremony. A gentleman from the Craigenhower Cricket Club (CCC) in Hong Kong offered to trade me his jacket, for mine, which was kidn and readily accepted.
Every team got participation medals and took the opportunity to give gifts to the hosts to thank them for putting on the tournament. Everyone there was especially pleased with the words from the China Tour champions, South Africa's captain, John Connellan. I will attempt to crib his notes here as a final word in this blog....
"The game of bowls owes you only two things. One, to have a good time. We have done that. Two, to meet great new people. We have also done that. Anything else is a bonus. This week, it was our turn to get a bonus. Thank you all."
And thank you all for the interest and warm words regarding this blog. I wished that I could have kept this better up to date during my travels, but the fates and the Chinese censors have other thoughts on that. If I'm fortunate enough to be selected to participate for the national team again, I will try to do better the next time.
Thanks for reading,
Scott Roberts
Sunday, March 27, 2011
China - Day 3
The USA Stripes arrived for their final game knowing that they had no chance for the playoffs and were playing the local team from Shenzhen. The USA Stars were on hand to watch and root on the Stripes and due to the scheduling quirks, it was the first time on the entire trip that they were able to do so.
Aaron Zangl led the team strongly having a toucher in nearly every end and was holding 1 every time, if not 2 and was always in better position. Phil Dunn followed with his own strong position bowls, despite fighting a cold/flu since his second day in Hong Kong. Gary Fischer continued the strong play by the Stripes team to dash any lingering hopes that the Shenzhen team would have. After every end, the Stripes held shot on the switchover. Every end. That is incredible, and watching them bowl together in this match, I wondered how they ever lost a match. Followed by Jim Olson's strong bowling, the only way that Shenzhen scored any points was by an incredible shot on the final bowl by the Shenzhen skip. The Stripes would go on to win 16-3 and finish with a 3-3-1 record and a tie for third place in the group, which was officially given to Happy Valley who had beaten them earlier in the tournament.
The playoff teams ended up being Hong Kong, Causeway Bay, China-C, China-A, Malaysia-A, Zhongshan, and the only two non-Asian teams that ended up making it to the finals where South Africa defeated the Netherlands.
Aaron Zangl led the team strongly having a toucher in nearly every end and was holding 1 every time, if not 2 and was always in better position. Phil Dunn followed with his own strong position bowls, despite fighting a cold/flu since his second day in Hong Kong. Gary Fischer continued the strong play by the Stripes team to dash any lingering hopes that the Shenzhen team would have. After every end, the Stripes held shot on the switchover. Every end. That is incredible, and watching them bowl together in this match, I wondered how they ever lost a match. Followed by Jim Olson's strong bowling, the only way that Shenzhen scored any points was by an incredible shot on the final bowl by the Shenzhen skip. The Stripes would go on to win 16-3 and finish with a 3-3-1 record and a tie for third place in the group, which was officially given to Happy Valley who had beaten them earlier in the tournament.
The playoff teams ended up being Hong Kong, Causeway Bay, China-C, China-A, Malaysia-A, Zhongshan, and the only two non-Asian teams that ended up making it to the finals where South Africa defeated the Netherlands.
China - Day 2
There are four rounds on Day 2, and both USA teams have to play four games on this day while many teams have a bye somewhere in the day. With both teams having one loss, there is little to no margin for error on this day. Also, if the Stars lose, then this will be the last day of bowling for them in the tournament.
In Round 4, the USA Stripes team, skipped by Jim Olson, played Causeway Bay, a local team. Despite a great effort, the USA team comes up short, 12-7. The Causeway Bay team would eventually be the #2 seed from this group, with some narrow victories over the other teams. The Stripes are now 1-2 for the tournament, and need to win out and get some help.
In Round 4, the USA Stars team, skipped by Neil Furman, played the team from Canada. Both teams had hung out a bit in Hong Kong and were looking forward to this match. For 10 ends, the Americans out-bowled the Canadians, and held a 9-4 lead, but they didn't run away from them. The Americans consistently choosing long jacks, while the Canadians took short ones which played to each team's strength. In the 11th end, the Canadians got one, to make it 9-5 with one end remaining. In the 12th end, the Stars bowled their worst end and the Canadians their best to get 5 points and win the match 10-9. A heartbreaking loss for the USA Stars team. The Stars are now 2-2 and also need to be perfect for the rest of the way and get some help to make it to the playoffs.
In Round 5, the Stripes played the very tough China-A team, led by the tournament organizer, Jacky Wong. the Stripes are just overmatched by the home team, 25-6 and fall to 1-3.
In Round 5, the Stars played the very tough Malaysia-A team skipped by Safuan Said, currently the #2 bowler in the world. The stars tried to shake off the bitter loss to the Canadians, but Safuan and Shahnizan, the Malaysian vice were just too tough and handed the Stars a 16-8 defeat, and a 2-3 record.
Both teams face the realization that there will be no playoffs for either team, but the desire to bowl well and represent the country strongly still remains.
Word came that McDonald's was being brought to the green. I would kill for a Big Mac, but it is Filet-O-Fish and very spicy chicken nuggets. Ah, well. Although it is halfway around the world the french fries are still the same. :)
In Round 6, the Stripes played Singapore and showed no mercy winning 21-4 and moving their mark to 2-3.
In Round 6, the Stars played the same International team that they played in Hong Kong and defeated handily. The International team also has yet to win in China. However, anyone can beat anyone in this sport and the International team bowls their best match of the tournament and the Stars bowl their worst, losing narrowly 12-10 and falling to 2-4.
In Round 7, the Stripes played the Phillipines to a 9-9 tie and a 2-3-1 record.
In Round 7, the Stars played their final game of the trip against the same Macau team they beat in the semi-finals in Hong Kong, by 2. Macau was also in the hunt for a playoff spot having earlier tied Malaysia. This was to be played on the end rink on the top green, rink 14. Rink 14 had "character". As Neil described it, on one end there was a putting green towards the end of one side followed by a sand trap which was a couple of inches deep. Bowls rolled there came to a fairly abrupt stop and were very hard to move out once they were there. While other teams found a problem, the Americans found an opportunity. The jack was consistently rolled just into the sand trap and then, if the line was right, the first bowl could more easily be placed very close to it where it would stop. Bowls that weren't on the right line would stay on the grass and roll through the rink. The Stars used this strategy and consistent inspired bowling to dash Macau's playoff hopes by a score of 15-5 and finish with a 3-4 record and a fifth place standing in the group. They took some solace in the fact that even with victories over Canada and International, it still wouldn't have been enough to get into the playoffs, where Hong Kong and Malaysia would end up.
In Round 4, the USA Stripes team, skipped by Jim Olson, played Causeway Bay, a local team. Despite a great effort, the USA team comes up short, 12-7. The Causeway Bay team would eventually be the #2 seed from this group, with some narrow victories over the other teams. The Stripes are now 1-2 for the tournament, and need to win out and get some help.
In Round 4, the USA Stars team, skipped by Neil Furman, played the team from Canada. Both teams had hung out a bit in Hong Kong and were looking forward to this match. For 10 ends, the Americans out-bowled the Canadians, and held a 9-4 lead, but they didn't run away from them. The Americans consistently choosing long jacks, while the Canadians took short ones which played to each team's strength. In the 11th end, the Canadians got one, to make it 9-5 with one end remaining. In the 12th end, the Stars bowled their worst end and the Canadians their best to get 5 points and win the match 10-9. A heartbreaking loss for the USA Stars team. The Stars are now 2-2 and also need to be perfect for the rest of the way and get some help to make it to the playoffs.
In Round 5, the Stripes played the very tough China-A team, led by the tournament organizer, Jacky Wong. the Stripes are just overmatched by the home team, 25-6 and fall to 1-3.
In Round 5, the Stars played the very tough Malaysia-A team skipped by Safuan Said, currently the #2 bowler in the world. The stars tried to shake off the bitter loss to the Canadians, but Safuan and Shahnizan, the Malaysian vice were just too tough and handed the Stars a 16-8 defeat, and a 2-3 record.
Both teams face the realization that there will be no playoffs for either team, but the desire to bowl well and represent the country strongly still remains.
Word came that McDonald's was being brought to the green. I would kill for a Big Mac, but it is Filet-O-Fish and very spicy chicken nuggets. Ah, well. Although it is halfway around the world the french fries are still the same. :)
In Round 6, the Stripes played Singapore and showed no mercy winning 21-4 and moving their mark to 2-3.
In Round 6, the Stars played the same International team that they played in Hong Kong and defeated handily. The International team also has yet to win in China. However, anyone can beat anyone in this sport and the International team bowls their best match of the tournament and the Stars bowl their worst, losing narrowly 12-10 and falling to 2-4.
In Round 7, the Stripes played the Phillipines to a 9-9 tie and a 2-3-1 record.
In Round 7, the Stars played their final game of the trip against the same Macau team they beat in the semi-finals in Hong Kong, by 2. Macau was also in the hunt for a playoff spot having earlier tied Malaysia. This was to be played on the end rink on the top green, rink 14. Rink 14 had "character". As Neil described it, on one end there was a putting green towards the end of one side followed by a sand trap which was a couple of inches deep. Bowls rolled there came to a fairly abrupt stop and were very hard to move out once they were there. While other teams found a problem, the Americans found an opportunity. The jack was consistently rolled just into the sand trap and then, if the line was right, the first bowl could more easily be placed very close to it where it would stop. Bowls that weren't on the right line would stay on the grass and roll through the rink. The Stars used this strategy and consistent inspired bowling to dash Macau's playoff hopes by a score of 15-5 and finish with a 3-4 record and a fifth place standing in the group. They took some solace in the fact that even with victories over Canada and International, it still wouldn't have been enough to get into the playoffs, where Hong Kong and Malaysia would end up.
China - Day 1
In Round 1, the USA Stripes team has a bye, but are on hand to root on the USA Stars team in their first match agains a local area team, Tsim Sha Tsui.
There are two rinks in Bijiashan Park in Shenzhen, and they are on two levels. The upper level runs about 10-11 seconds, which would be moderately slow. The lower level grass was put in about 4 months ago and it is running about 9 seconds, which is slow. Compare this to the Hong Kong greens that were running about 12 seconds (slow to average) for the most part, and to most greens in the SouthWest area that run about 14-16 seconds (fast). There is not much finesse that you can bowl with on greens that are this slow.
The USA Stars hold the good fortune from Hong Kng together and win the first match handily 15-5, playing on the lower slow green.
In Round 2, the Stars moved to the upper green and faced the very tough national Hong Kong team. Despite bowling well, the Hong Kong team bowls better and hands the Stars a 16-7 beating.
Also in Round 2, the Stripes have their first match against Spain, also on the upper green and win easily, 15-7.
There is a break for lunch, which was about a mile hike out of the park to a club/restaurant just outside of the park. After the walk back everyone gathered for the opening cermeonies on the lower green. Despite a threat of rain for every day in China, now was the only time that it did rain. It sprinkled for about 5 minutes, poured for about 15 minutes, then sprinkled for another 5 minutes. The ceremonies were slightly delayed until the rain stopped and then they began. Flags that were placed around the lower rink were given to the teams to carry while walking out onto the green. Scott Roberts and Aaron Zangl, the leads for the Stars and Stripes respectively, were given the honor of carrying the flag during the ceremony.
After the one-hour ceremony, including acrobatic dragons and a parade of all of the teams on the green, the teams went to their respective greens for Round 3 and the final match of the day.
After the rain, and one hour of people stomping around the lower green, it had now slowed even further and took a great deal of effort to bowl on. The China-A team was upset on the very slow green by Spain 20-7, which would be their only loss of the qualifying rounds.
The USA Stars faced the same Australian team that they faced in Hong Kong. Where as the game in Hong Kong was decided by one point on the final bowl, the Australians could not adjust to the slow conditions as well as the Americans. The Stars won 19-5.
The USA Stripes were also on the lower green for their second match of the tournament against Happy Valley, a local team. Unfortunately the Stripes lost, 12-8, in a close match.
At the end of the first day, the Stars are 2-1 and the Stripes are 1-1. The goal is to get at least second place in the group in order to make the playoffs, so one loss keeps both teams in the hunt, but two losses will require some help to make it into the playoffs, so there is little room for error and some powerhouse teams yet to be played.
There are two rinks in Bijiashan Park in Shenzhen, and they are on two levels. The upper level runs about 10-11 seconds, which would be moderately slow. The lower level grass was put in about 4 months ago and it is running about 9 seconds, which is slow. Compare this to the Hong Kong greens that were running about 12 seconds (slow to average) for the most part, and to most greens in the SouthWest area that run about 14-16 seconds (fast). There is not much finesse that you can bowl with on greens that are this slow.
The USA Stars hold the good fortune from Hong Kng together and win the first match handily 15-5, playing on the lower slow green.
In Round 2, the Stars moved to the upper green and faced the very tough national Hong Kong team. Despite bowling well, the Hong Kong team bowls better and hands the Stars a 16-7 beating.
Also in Round 2, the Stripes have their first match against Spain, also on the upper green and win easily, 15-7.
There is a break for lunch, which was about a mile hike out of the park to a club/restaurant just outside of the park. After the walk back everyone gathered for the opening cermeonies on the lower green. Despite a threat of rain for every day in China, now was the only time that it did rain. It sprinkled for about 5 minutes, poured for about 15 minutes, then sprinkled for another 5 minutes. The ceremonies were slightly delayed until the rain stopped and then they began. Flags that were placed around the lower rink were given to the teams to carry while walking out onto the green. Scott Roberts and Aaron Zangl, the leads for the Stars and Stripes respectively, were given the honor of carrying the flag during the ceremony.
After the one-hour ceremony, including acrobatic dragons and a parade of all of the teams on the green, the teams went to their respective greens for Round 3 and the final match of the day.
After the rain, and one hour of people stomping around the lower green, it had now slowed even further and took a great deal of effort to bowl on. The China-A team was upset on the very slow green by Spain 20-7, which would be their only loss of the qualifying rounds.
The USA Stars faced the same Australian team that they faced in Hong Kong. Where as the game in Hong Kong was decided by one point on the final bowl, the Australians could not adjust to the slow conditions as well as the Americans. The Stars won 19-5.
The USA Stripes were also on the lower green for their second match of the tournament against Happy Valley, a local team. Unfortunately the Stripes lost, 12-8, in a close match.
At the end of the first day, the Stars are 2-1 and the Stripes are 1-1. The goal is to get at least second place in the group in order to make the playoffs, so one loss keeps both teams in the hunt, but two losses will require some help to make it into the playoffs, so there is little room for error and some powerhouse teams yet to be played.
China - Rules and Groups
For the China portion of the tour, there are only 32 teams, as opposed to the 72 men's teams in Hong Kong. The 32 teams are broken into 4 groups of 8. Games are played with every team in each group, which is 7 games. Each game consists of 12 ends. There are no skins as there were in Hong Kong. Ties stand and the top 2 teams from each group advance to the playoffs, which will be 8 teams total.
The 7 games are played over 8 rounds, as there not enough rinks to have all teams playing at once, so 4 teams have a bye in each round. As it turns out the Stripes have their bye in the first round, and the Stars have their bye in the 8th round.
The USA Stars, led by Neil Furman, has the following teams in it's group: Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, International, Macau, Malaysia - A, and Tsim Sha Tsui.
The USA Stripes, led by Jim Olson, has the following team in it's group: Causeway Bay, China - A, Happy Valley, Phillipines, Shenzhen, Singapore, and Spain.
With the way the playoffs are structured, it's possible for an all-USA final, but there are some incredibly tough teams to get through.
The 7 games are played over 8 rounds, as there not enough rinks to have all teams playing at once, so 4 teams have a bye in each round. As it turns out the Stripes have their bye in the first round, and the Stars have their bye in the 8th round.
The USA Stars, led by Neil Furman, has the following teams in it's group: Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, International, Macau, Malaysia - A, and Tsim Sha Tsui.
The USA Stripes, led by Jim Olson, has the following team in it's group: Causeway Bay, China - A, Happy Valley, Phillipines, Shenzhen, Singapore, and Spain.
With the way the playoffs are structured, it's possible for an all-USA final, but there are some incredibly tough teams to get through.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Hong Kong - Final
Darkness has fallen in Hong Kong and all the lights are on. There are four finals going on, Cup and Plate finals each for the men and women. All the players for all teams are there as dinner is to follow the final over at the Hong Kong Football Club next door. I'll estimate the crowd at over 400 people there. Most of the teams are from local clubs so most of the attention is on the other three matches, especially the Cup final which features the China A team, skipped by the tournament organizer, Jacky Wong. Jacky is putting on a show for the home crowd as there are raucous yells from him and even louder cheers when a good bowl is rolled on that rink. China would end up winning in an extra end. It just adds to the difficult conditions of bowling in the dark under lights, radically changing rink conditions end to end, and now random yells and cheers from over 400 people.
The rules are the same for this match as the last. 8 ends with no skins. No trial bowls or practice. I want to take a personal side note about this. In every match, every individual will have 16 bowls. Normally in a singles or pairs game, that would be the equivalent of 4 ends, and there would be four practice bowls before that. If we go first, which we did, then as the lead the first thing I'll roll on this green is the jack, to try to get the speed off of that and then my bowls. My expectations are low on my results, but I want to try my best to have well-delivered bowls and hopefully provide good information for my teammates so they can pick me up on the first and likely the second ends. That's not excuses, as it is the same for both teams. It is also our seventh match of the day which started at 7:15 AM and it is now 6:30 PM.
Malaysia gets a 4 on the first end, followed up by one on the second end. Everyone is bowling ok on both teams, but there is nothing spectacular. It appears that no one is giving enough grass and it is getting wider as the match goes on. As we change on the third end, Neil stops us and asks if we have bowled under the lights at night before and none of us has. He tells us that it will get wider as it goes along. I mention this because even though Malaysia goes on to take the third end, Scott, Earl and Abe are all noticeably sharper after this. After 3 ends, it is 6-0 Malaysia, however. Phil Dunn, Gary Fischer, from the USA Stripes team and my wife Linda are sitting on the bank on the near side and they encourage us after the third end with a brief USA chant. Aaron and Jim are in with the rest of the crowd at the other end but they cheer as well for us after we make a good shot.
Scott gets one close with his first bowl on the third end, but his second gets loose and goes three yards through. As play goes on, the jack moves and it is the second long bowl that ends up getting the shot for the Americans. Back bowls, boys and girls. Back bowls. The US is on the board and it is 6-1. Abe gets the shot in the fourth end and Earl gets the shot in the fifth to make it 6-3 Malaysia with three ends to go. The upside is that the US is becoming more consistent, while Malaysia is less so.
In the sixth end, all US players are on and we get two points to make it a one point game. Malaysia holds the lead, 6-5, but the momentum and better bowls belongs to the US with two ends to go.
On my first bowl in the seventh end, as I am in the middle of delivering it, a large roar goes up as a result of something going on in the China match. To me, it sounds like it is happening on a radio far away and I still put it 18 inches, back-right of the jack. I've been holding two after my two bowls since the fourth end and it is the same here. There are some movement in and out of bowls but that first one and another shot from Abe holds up, and what was once a rout is now a US lead, 7-6, with one end to play.
Scott, Earl and Abe all bowl better than their opponents in the eighth end and they are holding three, while only needing one, including some back bowls in good position. Neil covers the back on the other side with his first bowl. The Malaysia skip's first bowl is narrow and coming across the head, but it hits the inside of a Malaysia short bowl which re-directs it perfectly to the jack that drags it back a good foot and stays with it. Neil makes a valiant effort but can't get it with his second and the Malaysian skip can't either. It's a tie after 8 ends, 7-7, so we go to an extra end. Winner take all.
They flip a coin and Malaysia wins, but decides to take the mat. Malaysia's lead's first bowl is narrow by 5 feet and long by 2. Scott is 2 feet away back-right. Malaysia's lead's second bowl is narrow and long. It almost is off the rink and way out back left. Scott's second is short left by a foot. Once again holding two. Malaysia's second's first bowl is way left and a yard shorter than their lead's first bowl. Earl comes on the back hand and nearly misses Scott's front bowl and puts it just past Scott's first in the back right. The Malaysian's second bowl is long and left. Earl's second hits Scott's front bowl and puts it jack high on the right about 4 inches away, while he goes through a yard on the left. At this point, the US is holding 4 with a bowl nearly on the jack, two in the back on the right and one on the back in the left, while Malaysia is all off to the left.
Malaysia's vice tries a heavy shot. I'd call it an over draw or a controlled drive to try to either knock the shot bowl off or the jack through and way back to where the Malaysian existing bowls are. At first I think it is too narrow, but the wideness of the green takes over. Somehow, from the forehand, it hits the inside of the shot bowl on the right of the jack which caromes his bowl to the left into the jack. My heart sinks as I watch the jack go nearly dead left about 5 feet, dead on line with the first bowl from each of the Malaysians. The Malaysians have a bowl behind by about a foot and another in front by about two feet and are holding two. I could offer him $100 to try it again with 10 bowls and he wouldn't come close to the same result.
The jack is also on a a new patch of grass with a new line. Abe tries his first and has the weight but he is off line. The Malaysian's second is short but on line, making it tougher to get at. Abe tries again and just misses touching the shot bowl. We change over and encourage Neil as best we can. He was the hero in the last game and hopefully he can be again. The Malaysian skip's first is short, but on the other hand, so the direct line is blocked on both sides now. Neil gives it a go, and just misses tapping the shot bowl. Almost a carbon copy of Abe's. The Malaysian's skip's second is long and left. All up to the last bowl and this is far from an easy shot for Neil. He lets it go. It looks like a good line and weight. It gets past the front bowl. It heads to the shot bowl and touches it, but only enough to shake it and not move it. Malaysia wins 8-7 in 9 ends.
Obviously it helps to bowl well, but you need some luck in this game. On the first day, we had zero, and I mean zero bounces go our way. The second day we bowled like all-stars and we had lady luck on our side, but she is fickle and left us in those last two ends. That's lawn bowling. But it was an incredible experience, bowling at various clubs in Hong Kong, including a final under the bright lights with a fairly large crowd and a silver medal from the Hong Kong tour is a great accomplishment and we did our country proud.
Our spirits are up as we head to China for the second leg of our tour.
The rules are the same for this match as the last. 8 ends with no skins. No trial bowls or practice. I want to take a personal side note about this. In every match, every individual will have 16 bowls. Normally in a singles or pairs game, that would be the equivalent of 4 ends, and there would be four practice bowls before that. If we go first, which we did, then as the lead the first thing I'll roll on this green is the jack, to try to get the speed off of that and then my bowls. My expectations are low on my results, but I want to try my best to have well-delivered bowls and hopefully provide good information for my teammates so they can pick me up on the first and likely the second ends. That's not excuses, as it is the same for both teams. It is also our seventh match of the day which started at 7:15 AM and it is now 6:30 PM.
Malaysia gets a 4 on the first end, followed up by one on the second end. Everyone is bowling ok on both teams, but there is nothing spectacular. It appears that no one is giving enough grass and it is getting wider as the match goes on. As we change on the third end, Neil stops us and asks if we have bowled under the lights at night before and none of us has. He tells us that it will get wider as it goes along. I mention this because even though Malaysia goes on to take the third end, Scott, Earl and Abe are all noticeably sharper after this. After 3 ends, it is 6-0 Malaysia, however. Phil Dunn, Gary Fischer, from the USA Stripes team and my wife Linda are sitting on the bank on the near side and they encourage us after the third end with a brief USA chant. Aaron and Jim are in with the rest of the crowd at the other end but they cheer as well for us after we make a good shot.
Scott gets one close with his first bowl on the third end, but his second gets loose and goes three yards through. As play goes on, the jack moves and it is the second long bowl that ends up getting the shot for the Americans. Back bowls, boys and girls. Back bowls. The US is on the board and it is 6-1. Abe gets the shot in the fourth end and Earl gets the shot in the fifth to make it 6-3 Malaysia with three ends to go. The upside is that the US is becoming more consistent, while Malaysia is less so.
In the sixth end, all US players are on and we get two points to make it a one point game. Malaysia holds the lead, 6-5, but the momentum and better bowls belongs to the US with two ends to go.
On my first bowl in the seventh end, as I am in the middle of delivering it, a large roar goes up as a result of something going on in the China match. To me, it sounds like it is happening on a radio far away and I still put it 18 inches, back-right of the jack. I've been holding two after my two bowls since the fourth end and it is the same here. There are some movement in and out of bowls but that first one and another shot from Abe holds up, and what was once a rout is now a US lead, 7-6, with one end to play.
Scott, Earl and Abe all bowl better than their opponents in the eighth end and they are holding three, while only needing one, including some back bowls in good position. Neil covers the back on the other side with his first bowl. The Malaysia skip's first bowl is narrow and coming across the head, but it hits the inside of a Malaysia short bowl which re-directs it perfectly to the jack that drags it back a good foot and stays with it. Neil makes a valiant effort but can't get it with his second and the Malaysian skip can't either. It's a tie after 8 ends, 7-7, so we go to an extra end. Winner take all.
They flip a coin and Malaysia wins, but decides to take the mat. Malaysia's lead's first bowl is narrow by 5 feet and long by 2. Scott is 2 feet away back-right. Malaysia's lead's second bowl is narrow and long. It almost is off the rink and way out back left. Scott's second is short left by a foot. Once again holding two. Malaysia's second's first bowl is way left and a yard shorter than their lead's first bowl. Earl comes on the back hand and nearly misses Scott's front bowl and puts it just past Scott's first in the back right. The Malaysian's second bowl is long and left. Earl's second hits Scott's front bowl and puts it jack high on the right about 4 inches away, while he goes through a yard on the left. At this point, the US is holding 4 with a bowl nearly on the jack, two in the back on the right and one on the back in the left, while Malaysia is all off to the left.
Malaysia's vice tries a heavy shot. I'd call it an over draw or a controlled drive to try to either knock the shot bowl off or the jack through and way back to where the Malaysian existing bowls are. At first I think it is too narrow, but the wideness of the green takes over. Somehow, from the forehand, it hits the inside of the shot bowl on the right of the jack which caromes his bowl to the left into the jack. My heart sinks as I watch the jack go nearly dead left about 5 feet, dead on line with the first bowl from each of the Malaysians. The Malaysians have a bowl behind by about a foot and another in front by about two feet and are holding two. I could offer him $100 to try it again with 10 bowls and he wouldn't come close to the same result.
The jack is also on a a new patch of grass with a new line. Abe tries his first and has the weight but he is off line. The Malaysian's second is short but on line, making it tougher to get at. Abe tries again and just misses touching the shot bowl. We change over and encourage Neil as best we can. He was the hero in the last game and hopefully he can be again. The Malaysian skip's first is short, but on the other hand, so the direct line is blocked on both sides now. Neil gives it a go, and just misses tapping the shot bowl. Almost a carbon copy of Abe's. The Malaysian's skip's second is long and left. All up to the last bowl and this is far from an easy shot for Neil. He lets it go. It looks like a good line and weight. It gets past the front bowl. It heads to the shot bowl and touches it, but only enough to shake it and not move it. Malaysia wins 8-7 in 9 ends.
Obviously it helps to bowl well, but you need some luck in this game. On the first day, we had zero, and I mean zero bounces go our way. The second day we bowled like all-stars and we had lady luck on our side, but she is fickle and left us in those last two ends. That's lawn bowling. But it was an incredible experience, bowling at various clubs in Hong Kong, including a final under the bright lights with a fairly large crowd and a silver medal from the Hong Kong tour is a great accomplishment and we did our country proud.
Our spirits are up as we head to China for the second leg of our tour.
Hong Kong - Semi-Final
The Craigenhower Cricket Club (CCC) feels like the only ground level area in that portion of Hong Kong. They have two greens and it is surrounded by very tall beautiful buildings on three sides and the Hong Kong Football Club, which also has a full length horse race track across the street.
The US Stars team exits the bus to play Macau in the semi-final, the team's sixth match of the day. All the other teams have arrived, so it is straight to the green. Like play has been this day and all days, no practice and no trial ends. Just straight to the match. Checking all of the other greens, the only non-Asain team still playing is the US Stars team.
There are no skins now. It is just an 8-end match. The one with the most points at the end of the match wins and moves on to the finals.
The US team picks up where they left off, scoring 3 in the first end, 2 in the second end, and 1 in the third end. The Macau lead is bowling well and matching the US lead, Scott, shot for shot, but Earl and Abe for the US are greatly outplaying the middle two of Macau. The Macau skip is the best bowler on the green and has saved about 5 shots in the first three ends with his last bowl. Neil is not making it easy for him and is bowling exceptional as well. After three ends, the US leads 6-0, and the lights are turned on at CCC. And when I say lights, I mean stadium-type lighting with multiple lights on multiple poles surrounding both greens.
The Macau skip play brilliant shots again on his last bowl to get Macau on the board in the fourth end, and drags the jack back for a four that Neil can't cut into in the fifth end, and just like that the US lead is cut to 6-5, with three ends to go. The sixth end shows the strength of both leads. Scott puts his first within a foot of the jack, but the Macau lead pushes it through. Scott puts his second again within a foot of the jack, but again the Macau lead pushes it through. The shot bowl changes 4 more times, but it is the last that counts as the Macau skip knocks the shot bowl through to take the point and tie the match with two ends to go.
Needing to get the momentum back Scott puts his first bowl right on the jack, and despite many near misses, it holds up during the end and the US gets 1 in the seventh end and leads 7-6 with one end to go.
If the US wins the end, it is on to the finals. If Macau gets 2 they are in, and if they get 1 there will be an extra end. The Macau lead gets the better of Scott, and has the shot. Abe takes the shot away, but the Macau vice takes it from him. As the team change ends, Macau is holding one about 18 inches from the jack, that is jack-high. with a wall of Macau bowls in front of the jack. There is a somewhat narrow window on the forehand side that is open for Neil to draw into, but while he has good weight his line is off. The Macau skip tries the other hand to push his bowls up but he is uncharacteristically very short and way off line. Last bowl for Neil, with the US hopes on the line. Neil draws perfectly to the jack and hits it slow and square and moves it only aobut two inches and stays with it. The crowd of US supporters, including the Stripes team erupts. With it still behind the wall of Macau bowls, this is a near impossible shot for the Macau skip, but he has made nearly every shot all match. He takes a run at the wall, but to no avail. The US gets one on the last end to win 8-6 and advance to the finals.
The US will now play for the gold medal against the #1 seed Malaysia under the bright lights of CCC and the surrounding buildings of Hong Kong.
The US Stars team exits the bus to play Macau in the semi-final, the team's sixth match of the day. All the other teams have arrived, so it is straight to the green. Like play has been this day and all days, no practice and no trial ends. Just straight to the match. Checking all of the other greens, the only non-Asain team still playing is the US Stars team.
There are no skins now. It is just an 8-end match. The one with the most points at the end of the match wins and moves on to the finals.
The US team picks up where they left off, scoring 3 in the first end, 2 in the second end, and 1 in the third end. The Macau lead is bowling well and matching the US lead, Scott, shot for shot, but Earl and Abe for the US are greatly outplaying the middle two of Macau. The Macau skip is the best bowler on the green and has saved about 5 shots in the first three ends with his last bowl. Neil is not making it easy for him and is bowling exceptional as well. After three ends, the US leads 6-0, and the lights are turned on at CCC. And when I say lights, I mean stadium-type lighting with multiple lights on multiple poles surrounding both greens.
The Macau skip play brilliant shots again on his last bowl to get Macau on the board in the fourth end, and drags the jack back for a four that Neil can't cut into in the fifth end, and just like that the US lead is cut to 6-5, with three ends to go. The sixth end shows the strength of both leads. Scott puts his first within a foot of the jack, but the Macau lead pushes it through. Scott puts his second again within a foot of the jack, but again the Macau lead pushes it through. The shot bowl changes 4 more times, but it is the last that counts as the Macau skip knocks the shot bowl through to take the point and tie the match with two ends to go.
Needing to get the momentum back Scott puts his first bowl right on the jack, and despite many near misses, it holds up during the end and the US gets 1 in the seventh end and leads 7-6 with one end to go.
If the US wins the end, it is on to the finals. If Macau gets 2 they are in, and if they get 1 there will be an extra end. The Macau lead gets the better of Scott, and has the shot. Abe takes the shot away, but the Macau vice takes it from him. As the team change ends, Macau is holding one about 18 inches from the jack, that is jack-high. with a wall of Macau bowls in front of the jack. There is a somewhat narrow window on the forehand side that is open for Neil to draw into, but while he has good weight his line is off. The Macau skip tries the other hand to push his bowls up but he is uncharacteristically very short and way off line. Last bowl for Neil, with the US hopes on the line. Neil draws perfectly to the jack and hits it slow and square and moves it only aobut two inches and stays with it. The crowd of US supporters, including the Stripes team erupts. With it still behind the wall of Macau bowls, this is a near impossible shot for the Macau skip, but he has made nearly every shot all match. He takes a run at the wall, but to no avail. The US gets one on the last end to win 8-6 and advance to the finals.
The US will now play for the gold medal against the #1 seed Malaysia under the bright lights of CCC and the surrounding buildings of Hong Kong.
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