Team A (Jim Craig) vs Team C (Deemo) 19th December 2025

Hi,

I feel I must comment on the recent game, A v C, probably the best Holyrood game of the season, with everybody playing above usual standard. Special mention should go to Superlube. In end-after-end he came in when we were lying several stones and with devastating shots, either managed to cut the deficit to a one or, even more spectacularly, threw a winning shot.

However, the last end was a real heart stopper. We went in with a one stone advantage and the hammer; the question was whether we could hold on and deny Superlube a win with another deadly shot. Things were looking good with Scalpel and Constable both setting down great stones.  But things changed spectacularly when Hoss managed a magnificent double take out of what we thought to be reasonably protected stones. I managed a great draw with my last stone to lie on the button and with protection in front. Game over, safe at last.

Horror, Superlube came in with an even better draw to push me back a few inches and lie shot. Must be a peel!  The stone was lying with a small side showing, the only shot was a very difficult wick to send it out sideways, shot called from Deemo. Line good, and with excellent sweeping the stone slid passed the guard and cleared the problem, leaving our stone in place.

With team A lying second stone, cutting the black and buried in the pack, the possibility of a draw was still possible. Demo with true professionalism threw his second with precision and immaculate sweeping to outcount the opposition stone.

Upstairs to wallow in the magic.

Kind regards

Ken

Team B (John Mac) vs Team D (Rob Garner)  15th December 2025

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A brief report from the vanquished.

This was the second defeat in a row for Team Garner and by a considerable margin of ends. We had supersub Bob for our fourth player while Team MacConnachie were joined by Jim Craig who had put his hand up to replace the absent Colin – Jim claimed he needed the practise after a relatively mediochre run of recent results for his own team. But he really shouldn’t worry if he continues to play at the level he did in this game.

John played Jim in Colin’s position at third and he (Jim) was back to devastating form. John was playing well too and their front end were consistently getting stones in the house. It rather left Team Garner flaying around, despite some reasonable play. But we were not getting the breaks either. Too many times skip Rob was left having to attempt trick shots but with little luck.

Particularly galling for Team Garner was an early end (the second or third ?) when where we were lying what looked like a solid five stones only for John to manage to claw it back. It could have been a different game if he hadn’t!

Another end (fourth or fifth?) saw a guddle of stones gathered around the button. Rob’s first stone got us lying but then John drew in closer. Rob’s final stone was a brilliant draw to very slightly move John’s stone. Was it enough? Both stones were within a couple of inches of the centre spot. It was a difficult measure as they were so close but the final verdict was that it was John’s end by a millimetre.

After that, Team MacConnachie steadily built their lead and try as we might, we just couldn’t get back in the game.

John W.