The Narrow line between success and failure was recently exemplified in a game of lawn bowls. Last weekend St Brendan's beat Greystones at Burnaby Park in a Bowling League of Ireland Division Two clash by a single shot, 81-80.

In a bowling league match a team consists of four rinks of four players, 16 in all. Players bowl two woods each per end and there are 21 ends in the match, all of which must be played. Applying my primary school maths, that means that on each rink there are 336 woods played and in the context of a match (four rinks) that would mean a grand total of 1,344 woods.

A victorious team - the combined score of four rinks greater than their opponents - receives three points with an additional point for every rink that is up. Conversely the losers may still gain points if they win or finish ahead on one or more of the rinks.

Winning a match by a shot is uncommon, but not unusual. However, it is very rare, as was the case in this match, that three rinks tie, 23-23, 20-20, 18-18, and the match was decided by the fourth 2019. In four hours, the usual time-span of a match, and with 1,344 woods played, the issue is decided by a single one.

With three rinks tied, each team receives half a point for each, but St Brendan's won the match and were up on one rink thereby finishing with 51/2 points out of a maximum seven.

It is now time to take two Anadin.