Team B (John W) vs Team D (Rob)  8th November 2024

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Looking for light at the end of the tunnel?

By the end of this game, Team Garner could quite rightly consider themselves the unluckiest team in Holyrood. So many times were they the victims of friendly fire.  So many times it looked as if an end was going their way, only for hopes to be dashed by an errant delivery promoting an opponent’s stone. Fortunately this run of bad luck didn’t last the entire evening and they did salvage a couple of ends later in the game but nonetheless, Team Garner must be hoping for a change of fortune soon.

Both teams were at normal strength despite this less than popular late time slot on a Friday evening. Team Waterlow lost the toss and quickly discovered that the ice was remarkably sticky.  Soon a wall of short stones had built up and gaining access to the house was increasingly difficult. Ultimately Team Waterlow found a way in to open the scoring with a single.

Then came the remarkable run of bad luck for Team Garner. And lady luck didn’t desert just one member of the team, it was the whole crew – they all managed to promote an opponent’s stone, some on more than one occasion. Meanwhile, Team Waterlow were making the best of their opponents’ bad fortune.

By the fourth end, Team Garner had settled down and were lying a single with just the very last stone to throw.  Skip Garner was acutely aware that he needed more than just singles to catch up and decided to promote one of their own stones for a two.  The stone was delivered but despite the sweepers best efforts, it cut away, only to promote a Team Waterlow stone; 5-0 to Team Waterlow.

Finally things came good for them in the fifth end.  This time their lying stone was well protected leaving Team Waterlow unable to do anything about it.

And it got even better in the sixth, this time with a two.  Time was running out (it had been a pretty slow game with quite a lot of deliberating going on) but we managed to start a seventh end just before the bell.  This one ended in a single for Team Waterlow – my memory is not what it was but was that the result of a crafty tap-up?  It’s immaterial really as it ended a comfortable win for Team Waterlow, an equally uncomfortable loss for Team Garner.  Their luck really must change soon.

John.

Team A (John Mac) vs Team C (Deemo)  4th November 2024

Rinks : ‘A’ MacCornerkicky  v.  ‘C’  Deemo

‘Match 3 of 15 in the Main League !’

Arriving at the rink the changing room was a haven of peace and tranquillity when Deemo walked in and then the ‘banter’ started amongst the ‘well kent faces’. A surprise was then to unfold with our new reserve member David Lawson introducing himself to the attendant Holyrood members – he was there to play with Stewart’s Melville CC and we look forward to him taking to the ice under the guise of Holyrood CC where he is already assigned to replace ‘Geemo’ for some matches as scheduled by ‘Tides Out’.

Rink ‘A’ took to the ice minus ‘Geemo’ who is still recovering from his broken leg – Zimmer being used at present but soon to be replace by a crutch or walking stick I understand. In this instance ‘Hard Core’ was standing in for ‘Geemo’ before he heads off to the land of sun and cork festooned hats where they couldn’t give a ‘Castlemaine XXXX’ for the goings on at Holyrood CC. ‘Hard Core’ – godspeed, enjoy and haste ye back!  So ‘Mr MacCornerkicky’ was at skip, ‘The Auld Yin’ at third, ‘Hard Core’ playing second and ‘Newsprint’ at lead.

Rink ‘C’ were at full strength with ‘Super Lube’ back to take his usual position at third, ‘Sweet Chariot’ still sporting his Portuguese bronze skin tone at second and with the irrepressible ‘Snudge’ playing point and leading us out in his usual style.

Rink ‘Deemo’ started off in fine fettle scoring a two then a single against the hammer to take a three shot lead. Rink ‘MacCornerkicky’ then gathered their guile and struck back with a score of two. Nip and tuck after three ends – is this how it was going to be throughout! The fourth end was going well for rink ‘Deemo’ with a healthy collection of stones in a huddle just short of the pot lid – surely this was a decisive moment! Mr MacCornerkicky played a blinder of a shot which cannoned in off a stone to disrupt proceedings and leaving Rink ‘Deemo’ counting a single shot but with last stone still to come!!!! ‘Super lube’ saw an opening with a draw to the four foot for a two but taking ice way out in the wings – ‘Deemo’ took aim and played a finely weighted shot which the sweepers guided past an opposing guard stone edging it ever closer to the four foot only for the sweepers to be called off and the stone ending two inches short of scoring!!!!!!  Ooops. Now we were at 4 shots to 2.

End five saw Rink ‘Deemo’ again building a healthy head which looked like a potential score of four only to be pegged back by rink ‘MacCornerkicky’ to score three – apparently half an inch was all there was in it and ‘Super Lube’ assured skip ‘Deemo’ there was no need to measure because he knew what half an inch looked like. 

End six saw rink ‘Deemo’ chalk up another single to take the score to 8 – 2 in their favour.

With time running out for Rink ‘MacCornerkicky’ to stage a resurgence, it was still possible but hard to envisage with the front end of rink ‘Deemo’ performing as they were – both shot making and sweeping.

Rink ‘MacCornerkicky’ did round off the match scoring a single in the last end to lose out 8–3, not through lack of endeavour or enthusiasm – it just wasn’t their night.

A big thanks to all players taking part in what was a most convivial match and those of us who were able retired to the bar for a de-brief and some more ‘gentle banter’.

With the league table looking very even we now look forward to our next match against ‘Tides Out’.

Bye for now, Deemo.