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.