This player will hold the scorecard throughout the game and must record player names, record all shots for and against their side, and compare and confer with their opposing number. They will hand their scorecard to the skip after the game.
As a bowler they must be skilled to protect the head or draw to overturn a negative position.
They come to the mat to face a situation not of their own making. Either the lead has established a solid foundation for the head or they have not. If the former, the no.2 must build on that foundation, hoping to leave his no.3 in a really dominant position. If the latter they must do everything in his power to retrieve the situation, knowing that if he fails in this task his team-mates may be left chasing a forlorn cause…
If the situation is favourable, the skip will either ask them to protect the shot bowl(s) or get their bowls into the head in such a way as to provide insurance for later developments… Either way positional shots are called for, so the no.2 must not only be a good draw player but they must also be able to vary the line and length at will.
This is particularly difficult during the early game stages and the no.2 who is first in the groove will give the team a real boost
If the head is unfavourable when the no.2 comes to the mat, their course of action is radically different. If the lead has not got a bowl close, then the skip will direct them to get right into the head, either to take shot or at least to get bowls into position for a conversion later on. Failure to do so can lead to disaster, because it may leave the opposition with a virtually impregnable winning position.
The no.2 can be described as the anchor man of the side. Unlike the lead they are anything but a specialist position, calling upon the complete range of shots. There is a particular practice routine that will give the no.2 insight into his task and is equally useful for singles.
Website Utility Player Drill Selections 1Remember to adjust target distances from mat-length to bin-lid or within-a-foot
Please note these are the thoughts and inspirations collated by the author from web articles, accredited on the previous page as shortcuts, and may not represent the opinions of the GSMBA
