On the Jack – Blog #6(New Season)

🟢 On the Jack – Blog #6 (New Season)

“The Jack Has a Mind of Its Own”

There’s an old saying in bowls that if you can follow the jack, you’ll win more matches.

The trouble is, nobody has ever told the jack.

For a small white/yellow ball, it has an astonishing ability to find trouble. One minute it’s sitting quietly in the centre of the rink, minding its own business. The next, it’s been nudged sideways, kissed by a bowl, ricocheted through a cluster of woods, and somehow finished closer to the ditch than anyone intended.

The jack, it seems, has plans of its own.

🎯 The Great Chase

Every end begins with the same noble objective: get close to the jack.

Simple enough.

Yet before long, sixteen bowls have been delivered, several tactical discussions have taken place, and someone is asking:

“How did the jack end up over there?”

It’s one of the sport’s great mysteries.

Experienced skips call it strategy.

New bowlers call it confusion.

Spectators call it entertainment.

🌱 A Lesson for New Bowlers

One of the first things newcomers discover is that bowls isn’t always about bowling directly at the jack.

Sometimes you’re protecting it.

Sometimes you’re moving it.

Sometimes you’re guarding a shot bowl.

And occasionally you’re simply hoping your bowl finishes somewhere useful.

The beauty of bowls lies in its endless possibilities.

No two ends are ever quite the same.

🤝 Etiquette Corner – Respect the Head

Once bowls begin gathering around the jack, the “head” becomes an important area.

Good etiquette means:

• Avoid standing in front of players delivering bowls.

• Take care not to move bowls accidentally.

• And resist the temptation to celebrate before the end is complete.

Many a bowler has admired a winning shot only to watch the next bowl completely rearrange the head.

☕ Clubhouse Chatter

• Several excellent roll-ups this week.

• New members continue to impress.

• Debate continues over whether luck plays any part in bowls.

The current clubhouse verdict appears to be:

“Luck definitely exists… especially when your opponent gets it.”

📚 Bowls History Corner

The jack hasn’t always been white/yellow.

Historically, jacks were often made from hardwood and appeared in various natural colours.

The modern white/yellow jack became popular because it was easier for players and spectators to see across longer distances.

Although even today, some bowlers insist it occasionally disappears entirely when they need it most.

🌟 Final End Thought

The jack may be small.

It may be unpredictable.

It may occasionally seem determined to ruin your carefully crafted plan.

But without it, we’d simply be rolling bowls around a field.

And where would be the fun in that?

So here’s to the little white/yellow ball that keeps us all chasing, guessing, laughing, and coming back for more.

See you, “On the jack.”

Your Rink-side Rambler, Norman Deegan.

THIS WEEK ON THE GREEN – Club News and Activities

🗞️ Marine Gardens Bowling Club Weekly Report

Week Ending Sunday, 31st May 2026
Alan Paterson, Press Officer.

After opening their WSBL season with an excellent win over Middleton, Marine Gardens bowlers found the tables turned in their second fixture, away at Norfolk. The home side adapted well to their conditions, securing victory on three of the four rinks and taking the match with an aggregate score of 78–44.

There was, however, a welcome highlight for Marine Gardens thanks to David Barlow, Ken Leadbeater, Rod Smith, and James Albon, who produced a fine 16–9 win to ensure the visitors returned with something to celebrate.

The spell of warm weather has kept the green busy, with Club Drives and Internal Competitions well supported throughout the week. Following our recent Open Days, we remain hopeful that several of the enthusiastic attendees will soon join our ranks and discover the enjoyment and camaraderie that bowls provides. Sincere thanks go to all members who helped make those days such a success.

With no further competitive fixtures scheduled, it proved a quieter week on the bowling front.

On Thursday, members once again enjoyed the ever‑popular trip to Brighton and Hove Greyhound Racing, expertly organised by our inventive social secretary, Wendy Wilson. As always, it was a lively and entertaining evening.