Definition and synonyms

• Definition: The act of continuing in a course of action, purpose, or belief, especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. It is a character strength related to courage and involves putting in effort and practice to overcome setbacks. 
• Synonyms: Steadfastness, determination, persistence, doggedness, and tenacity. 

Once again we approached the week with 2 fixtures to fulfil. Both in League 1, on Monday and Friday. Both leagues we have failed to make an impact on, so far this season.

Now I know it’s early days, and us Raiders have a history of starting slowly, both in games won, and in individual games, where it has sometimes taken us 6 or 7 ends to realise we are in a game!! So the above definition, and all synonyms of Perseverance, seem to have been written to apply to Earls Barton Raiders! That’s how we roll, (you can groan at the bowls pun, if you like. They don’t get any better so make the most of it!)

Monday 20 Oct0ber – Earls Barton Raiders vs Reprobates

And so it came to pass that the Raiders entered the arena full of hope and promise to rid ourselves of that “`’no win’ millstone.

We huffed and we puffed, all to no avail. We were unlucky on some ends, but being honest we were totally out bowled by our opposition who seem to have started the season like a well oiled machine compared with us.

And, like other Monday games before us this season to date, we lost 24-13. Heads up gang. We are The Raiders, like a rubber ball, we’ll bounce back….next time.

Friday 24 October = Earls Barton Raiders vs Pegasus

New day, new expectations and new hope. Once again we entered the fray, with a League 1 evening anticipating what will always be, a difficult evening.

Something happened, something changed. With a skip in our step and smile on our face we were able to bamboozle our opponents with skills rarely seen on a bowls rink. (Nothing to do with our bowls ability, more to do with our ability to talk people to distraction!)

We bowled and we talked. We won! (Just type that last bit again, as I haven’t used that phrase much on a League 1 report…WE WON!!

By 23 points to 11, our intrepid heroes delivered the first victory of the season in the higher leagues.

We can do it.

Surely this will inspire us onto more winning evenings in the months ahead, otherwise we’re in for some cold winter’s evenings, (unless the new heating system at Wellingborough Bowls Club can warm the cockles of our hearts!)