Another season of competitive bowling in the EBA 2nd XVI leagues is over and it was one of growth for the Northern 2nd string as while fielding a plethora of new players, alongside some experience, they managed to keep their place in Division 2
Things started off sticky with a 9-0 away defeat to Mayfield and over the following early weeks form never improved as the young guns took some time to find their feet and to get over any performance anxiety brought on by such a competitive season so early in their careers.
They picked up their first win in week 4 with a respectable 5-4 victory away to Leith and then followed that up with a solid 7-2 win at home to Slateford. Bowls can be a cruel game though and alas those two wins were followed by a free week which halted the teams momentum and upon return they had a 9-0 loss away to Summerside to dampen spirits again.
The 2nd half of the season started similar to the 1st with some big defeats but scores don’t always tell the full story. Multiple rinks would often be a few shots up with a few ends to go, or lying multiple shots with only one bowl to go, only for fate to conspire against them. It’s fine lines in bowls and it’s all about consistency.
In the end though it looks like enough lessons were learned and the team did do enough to stay in the division for another year. Also, based on how they started playing in their final few games they can go into next season with the confidence that they’ll do better. It really is a team that’s growing in stature
Zak Jouhar, playing in his very first year of competitive bowls echoed that sentiment with “The season had it’s ups and downs but I think we finally constructed a very good 2nds team near the end and we stayed up due to this! We’re getting better & stronger in each rink and I personally can’t wait for next season to begin and get back to it with the guys!”
Scott Blair, who’s risen up the roster to skip a rink that managed some good wins throughout the year in only his second season added “A few disappointing results this season, but a great experience for all the new bowlers in the team of which there’s a few. Great potential in the team for next season.”
Andrew Millar who played as the 3rd on Scott Blairs rink said “The start of the season was frustrating as nothing seemed to click. Although, as things went on, I felt there was more consistency with the rinks which made the 2nd’s a harder outfit to play against and I strongly believe, we would have finished higher up the league if we still had games to play. I also strongly believe if we are relegated to Division 3 then we would come straight back up.”
First teamer Darren Prentice chipped in with “It’s all a learning curve for the new players and it will help them improve”
So onwards and upwards for next season it is then!
Week 1 – 3rd May 2023
Mayfield 9 – 0 Northern (73-51)
Week 2 10th May 2023
Northern 2 – 7 Postal (48-66)
Week 3 17th May 2023
Hillside 9 – 0 Northern (67-54)
Week 4 24th May 2023
Leith 4 – 5 Northern (61-66)
Week 5 31st May 2023
Northern 7 – 2 Slateford (73-56)
Week 6 7th June 2023
FREE WEEK
Week 7 14th June 2023
Summerside 9 – 0 Northern (77-46)
Week 8 21st June 2023
Northern 5 – 4 Mayfield (58-57)
Week 9 28th June 2023
Postal 9 – 0 Northern (100-35)
Week 10 5th July 2023
Northern 0 – 9 Hillside (47-72)
Week 11 12th July 2023
Northern 3 – 6 Leith (60-58)
Week 12 19th July 2023
Slateford 2 – 7 Northern (44-73)
Week 13 2nd August 2023
FREE WEEK
Week 14 9th August 2023
Northern 2 – 7 Summerside (59-64)
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