After a long break, how is the mat placed when resuming a stopped Fours game?

The mat is placed by the team that won the last played end when resuming a stopped Fours game. This rule is designed to ensure continuity and fairness in play. By allowing the winning team of the last end to determine the mat's location, it maintains the advantage gained from their performance in that end. This practice is in line with the general principles of the game, where the winning side has the right to dictate the conditions of play moving forward, reflecting their prior success.

Other options, while they may seem logical in some contexts, do not align with established rules and practices of bowls. For instance, having the umpire decide the placement could lead to inconsistencies, and allowing the losing team to position the mat might undermine the competitive aspect that the winning team should retain. Mutual agreement, although important in many scenarios, is not the standard procedure for resuming play after a break, particularly when it comes to the strategic element governed by the results of previous ends.