This was the last game of the season, the double-header when all four teams were on the ice. And it had the potential to be a cliff-hanger. Although coming into the evening Team Deemo were ahead in the league on 18 points, Team MacConnachie were just behind with 16 points. If Team Deemo were to lose and Team MacConnachie win, the two teams would be level on points and it would be down to shots/ends to decide the overall League winners and depending on the scores, it could have been very close.
In the end though all of this was academic. Although we beat Team Deemo, Team Garner beat Team MacConnachie so Team Deemo were crowned League winners for the 2024/25 season.
As far as Team Waterlow were concerned though this game was a matter of pride. We hadn’t won a game since 4th February – with a run of five lost games, we desperately wanted a win.
Both teams started the game a man/woman down. Team Deemo were short not just their doughty third, Jim Craig, who mystifyingly was away golfing in Spain, but also Steve Laux whose calendar planning had clearly glitched somewhere. Meanwhile Team Waterlow were short of Donny Hay who was unavoidably absent due to work in London. Because all four teams were on the ice, reserves were at a premium. Supersub Bob Cameron had already taken Jim’s place while Colin Appleby was playing in Geemo’s place in Team MacConnachie. And that was it – no-one else was available. So, it was three against three – there were going to be some tired sweepers by the end of the evening
Contrary to our recent habit we managed not to drop a chunky score in the first end, instead scoring a comfortable three. But then it went a bit pear shaped as we fell back into our customary style, losing a two, a six and a single over the next three ends.
But then the fight-back began as we gained useful twos in each of the next two ends. It was level pegging at seven-all as we went into what we thought would be final seventh end. Team Deemo were struggling as we desperately guarded a single counting shot which despite his best efforts, Deemo couldn’t get at. 8-7 and we thought it was all over! But it wasn’t. Deemo’s last stone had rolled to a halt seconds before the bell and unsurprisingly he was dead keen for another end. Oh, the agony!
It was a tense eight end but with the help of both skill and the curling gods, we built up three lying stones which were pretty well guarded by a variety of colours at the front. Any gaps that appeared we were able to fill and Deemo was left with little to go for. So, a very satisfactory result all round – Team B achieved a much-needed end-of-season victory while Team C’s hold on the title was unaffected.
We retired tired but happy to the bar for drinks while Team Deemo could admire the trophy they had deservedly won before it was whisked off to the engravers to record their names for posterity.
John.
Holyrood Curling Club 