Auld fielding a full team with no subs.
Kinnaird fielding Alice, Kay and Long John Waterlow but missing Laux or Walker, so brought in ‘ringer’ Billy ‘super sweep’ Fraser at the last minute.
Team A would be up against it given previous form – would all that TV Olympic curling on the telly inspire a high standard of play?
End 1 – Confirmed the worst as Team A managed by the tightest of margins managed to lose by only one stone.
End 2 – Team A lost by two stones. Alice forcing Dougie to make some tough shots – didn’t make them (sorry Ken, your shot calling was good). Team A needed to adjust calibration on their throwing weight and line.
End 3 – Again Team A finding it difficult to get the feel of the ice. Dougie had to make a really difficult last stone to save the day – missed by a whisker.
End 4 – A change of fortune for Team A as they somehow managed to get a three stone win taking advantage of an error by the opposition.
End 4 – Another win for Team A bringing the score level. Finally Team A managed to sort out their issues with weight and more importantly direction.
End 5 – Inspired by Bruce Mouat (he claimed) Dougie changed his tactics and set up the end with long guards hoping this would confuse Alice. It didn’t work as she’s made of tougher stuff, but Team A scraped another one stone win taking the lead.
End 6 – Seven minutes left on the clock. Alice managed to build up a strong position in the house and guarded well. Team A chipped away and eventually managed to create a way through but it was tight. Somehow Dougie’s last stone found its way into the middle of the pack and while counting was still well protected. Kay and Alice had a long discussion (the bell had gone earlier) and eventually decided that the best course of action was to use an outlying stone to bounce off and ricochet inside Dougie’s to count and win. It would be an amazing shot. Kay gave the line. Alice took a deep breath and sent the stone on its way. Line was good. Weight was good. John and Supersweep Billy did everything possible to keep the stone on line. The stone hit its target but did not come off at the expected angle missing Dougie’s stone. Team A breathed huge sigh of relief having scraped a one stone win over the match favourites.
Cracking game. Thanks to all.
Dougie
Holyrood Curling Club 