Time for change in luck?

No substitutes today – both teams at normal strength.  For Team Waterlow, Donny Hay was back from his South African hockey trip and sporting a giant dressing on his head – not the result of a hockey injury but instead him coming off worst in an argument with a wall.  Not that it was holding his curling back.

For the third game in a row, for Team Garner it was an evening of pondering over what might have been.  Despite some fine curling, they just didn’t get the breaks.

That said Team Garner got off to a strong start with a confident two.  Team Waterlow were still getting used to the ice which was swinging well and weight-wise some members of the team were through the back and others were falling short.  Despite an unguarded port into the centre, Skip Waterlow’s last shot was light and curled too much. Advantage Team Garner.

But that was it for Team Garner. Try as they might, they couldn’t find a way of getting stones in the house in positions which could be guarded. And they weren’t getting the luck either – on several occasions their own stones bounced in directions which left them disadvantaged.

Meanwhile Team Waterlow was settling into a comfortable rhythm.  Lead Fiona was getting stones to the house (and occasionally through!) while Donny at second was honing his takeout skills, much to Dave Dunsire’s chagrin given that it tended to be his well-placed lead stones that were being removed.  Third Richard was on particularly fine form achieving numerous excellent draws into the house.  Which left skip Waterlow in that position that skips love – no trick shots required, just guard, guard, guard.

There were no spectacular scoring ends, just ones and twos. It was also a slow game, in part due to a slow start, as well as a hiatus mid-game when it was realised that the scorecard wasn’t being kept up to date (a lesson for the seconds!). Only six ends were achieved as we just didn’t beat the bell in that final end.  So the final score was 7-2 in Team Waterlow’s favour who hope this a portent for the season as a whole.  Meanwhile, Team Garner is looking for a rabbit’s foot and better things to come. 

John.  

Down to the Wire

A short report this time as the writer is neither the victor nor a member of either of the games protagonists.  Come to that he wasn’t even in the head at the key moments. 

This game couldn’t have been any closer as it was decided by the last stone of the game.  Having trailed for most of the game, yet another last minute MacCornerkickey special resulted in a win for Team MacConnachie by eight stone to seven.

Both teams started with subs.  Team Garner fielded Colin at lead in place of Dave Dunsire while Team MacConnachie’s Geemo slot was taken by John W whom the skip placed at second in the playing order.

Team MacConnachie got off to a steady start on big-swinging ice with a single in the first end.  But then it was disaster for them in the second.  Having allowed Team Garner to build to four scoring stones, Rob added to the misery by adding a fifth with his final stone.

It was going to be an uphill struggle for Team Mac from now on.  However, they steadfastly nibbled away at the deficit scoring singles in the third and fourth ends followed by a two in the fifth.

So as the fifth end started it was five all.  However, Team Mac’s fine recovery suffered a set-back as Team Garner took a two. 

Was it all over for Team Garner? Not necessarily as lead Colin (who had been playing some fine lead stones thoughout the game) and second James had left a stone at the centre which was effectively guarded by Team Mac’s.  However, a double tap up by Team Mac’s number two managed to clear it. Advantage Team Mac who were now lying two stones. 

But the left side of the house was open to a draw, despite the efforts of Dougie to block it,  and Team Garner’s third, Ken, was all set to do just that with a fine stone – however, just a tad too much sweeping took it through the back. And so that opening for a draw remained until the last stone.  As it stood, the game would be peeled at seven each – it was all down to skip MacConnachie.  Everyone held their breath – would he fall short or would he go through? With just a tickle of judicious sweeping to gently adjust the pace, the stone drew to a halt.  Breath released – he had scored!  Much jubilation from Team Mac, rueful congratulations from Team Garner.

John.  

The Night of the Substitutes

The third game of the new season pitted arch-rivals Deemo and Waterlow against eachother for the first time. Except that it didn’t as a number of the principal players were absent, notably Deemo himself.  His doughty veteran number three, Jim Craig, was also missing. Their places were ably filled by Dougie Auld and super-sub Bob Cameron.  This meant Team Deemo regulars Steve Laux and Billy Fraser were promoted to skip and third respectively.

As for Team Waterlow, Donny Hay was still running around a hockey field in Cape Town so his place was filled by Colin Appleby.  Fiona Auld was back from partying down south to take lead, Colin was nominated second and Richard Willson was as usual at third.  So all present and correct and with the bell about to go, the teams were ready for the off.  Hang on a minute, where’s Richard?  Cue a panic phone call to discover a diary malfunction meant he was relaxing at home.  He immediately dashed off at a pace, intent on arriving before the last stone of the first end to beat the three point penalty deadline.

Meanwhile the game commenced.  With everyone still feeling a bit new to the ice, accuracy was coming second to enthusiasm and judging the ice was difficult.  It seemed fast down one side, slower down the other and the stones were curling considerably down both.

The first end resulted in a single to Team Waterlow and this set the pattern for the next couple of ends.  Team Deemo were still getting used to the new order of things with skip Laux and the sweepers not always seeing things eye to eye.

Richard had arrived with minutes to spare so with no forfeit to be accounted for, after three ends Team Waterlow were four stones up with Team Deemo yet to open their score.

But in the fourth Team Deemo started to get it together, scoring a fine single as Team Waterlow failed to find a way through to a well-protected stone.

That protected position was reversed in the fifth though and Skip JW was lucky enough to draw around the front wall to make it a two.

End six saw the shot of the match. As the end progressed, Team W had a scoring stone near the button but it was increasingly surrounded by Team Deemo stones.  A dislodged guard left the lead stone exposed although the path to it was tight. Undaunted, Skip Laux narrowed his eyes, drew back his stone and delivered an absolute corker – straight through the gap onto the pesky opposition stone. When the dust settled it was just bad luck that Team Deemo was up only a single – they deserved more.

For the seventh and final end and despite some fine deliveries, Team Deemo were at a two stone disadvantage by the time Skip JW was due to take his final stone – there was little to be gained by risking going for a three so he stuck his final stone up his metaphorical jumper and shook hands to finish an enjoyable game.

John.