BOWLS star Amy Gowshall and her Cleethorpes quartet crashed out of the National Women's Championships at Royal Leamington Spa earlier today.
The Commonwealth gold medallist, who teaches at Tollbar Academy, tasted defeat in the Second Round as her line-up looked to regain their fours title.
"We didn't play all that well against a Devon team in the first round on Sunday, if the truth be known," admitted Gowshall.
"We played better than they did, and that's all I can say. The 29-9 score flattered us, and we knew we would have to improve today."
Cleethorpes, who won the title in 2011, and lost in the semi-finals last year, faced a Broadway (Worcestershire) team skipped by Gowshall's England team-mate Sue Davies - and never really hit the form that took them to the title two years ago.
With Tracey Dent at lead and Kirsty Cox playing second, Gowshall's mum Christine slotted in as usual at number three - but the Lincolnshire champions were outplayed, 19-15.
"It's a shame, but, to be fair, they played better than we did," said Gowshall. "I will now have to turn my attention to the two-wood singles."
In view of the fact that Gowshall faces Cornwall's Susan Beale at 9am tomorrow morning in the first round of the two-wood singles event, it may be just as well that she is out of the fours.
She might otherwise have been expected to play four gruelling matches tomorrow.
If successful against Beale, Gowshall will meet Durham's Anne Camp, Gloucestershire's Joy Sheward or Maureen Norgate from Essex in the Second Round.
Later in the championships, Gowshall is bidding to retain the Champion of Champions singles title that she has already won seven times - and to competing, with mum Christine, in the pairs and family pairs.
