Defeat almost snatched from the jaws of victory
Holidays and various ailments meant there were as many subs as regular players in this game. Team MacConnachie was a veritable mercenary army with just the skip as the original member: Super-sub Bob was in for Gill at lead; Colin, now back from his travels, was playing second and is replacing Geemo for the rest of the season; while David Lawson at third was subbing for the skiing Dougie.
Meanwhile, Team Waterlow had just one alternate; Kay in place of the also skiing Fiona, and who started the team off on the right foot by winning the toss. Team MacConnachie chose to play blue stones.
It was nip and tuck for a couple of ends, the first going to Team Waterlow with a single but Team MacConnachie matching that in the second. Nip and tuck.
But then fortune was favouring the yellow stones of Team W who crept ahead over the next two ends. Too often, Team MacConnachie found themselves in a strong position, only to inadvertently promote an opposing yellow or push one of their own stones out of contention. Muttered swear words were heard on more than one occasion. That is not to take anything away from Team Waterlow who were working well together. Lead Kay was consistently getting stones in the house – the ideal lead’s role. Opportunities for take-outs by Donny and Richard were limited but they were making some fine draws when required.
Team MacConnachie bounced back to claim a single in the fifth end to make it 4-2 to Team W. Still all to play for. Then it got really serious.
As the sixth end progressed a guddle of stones built up at the front of the house but with Team W lying shot. John Mac went for a MacCornerkicky special to see if he could change things and sure enough, he did – when the dust settled there was a blue stone lying pretty much on the pot lid. However, it was slightly exposed and John W had the hammer – he had no choice but to try and move it. The slot was narrow so the stone need to carry some weight to stay straight enough to get through and then it needed to be at exactly the right angle to ensure that it stayed in place – otherwise disaster beckoned. The shot was made, the sweepers did Richard’s bidding and bingo, a single to Team W.
So, to the last end and with the score at 5-2 all Team W had to do was play defensively and stroke it home. At which point the wheels started to come off! The previously reliable front end were falling short and suddenly the house was full of blue stones. Try as he might Richard couldn’t break through so by the time John W came to play, Team MacConnachie were four up and protected by a lot of stones in front of the house and sniffing a victory. With his first stone John W managed to draw round the side and cut down the advantage but John Mac immediately followed with exactly the same shot. Touché. Another skip’s shot required from Team W.
Concentrating hard, John W managed to replicate his previous draw leaving Team MacConnachie lying one and with less access than before. This time there was no MacCornerkicky special and they could only take the single – hopes dashed.
An excellent game which could have gone either way. Team W had had to dig deep while Team MacConnachie were left ruing their mid-game luck.
John W.
Holyrood Curling Club 