Team A (Jim Craig) vs Team C (Deemo) 27th November 2025

‘Match 6 of 15 in the Main League for Rink Deemo!’

Alarm bells were ringing for ‘Superlube’ early in the day when it transpired that ‘The Young Yin’ had not managed to secure a sub for this game – where are all the subs? Early Christmas parties?

As it transpired ‘Newsprint’, who had arranged to sub for ‘The Scalpel’, was keen to drop off the fixture due to confusion over match timing and an impending early start the following morning. ‘Deemo’ agreed to play ‘three on three’ and excused ‘Newsprint’ from the late night shift, only to realise he was giving up a potential 3 point penalty advantage the application of which may well have been keenly contested!!!!

And so it came to pass that ‘Superlube’, ‘I don’t believe it’ and ‘Hoss’ took to the ice to confront ‘Deemo’, ‘Round them up’ and ‘The Constable’ (Donny – the Hay Wain). Handshakes all round, the toss of a coin and we were set on our path for what could be a test of sweeping endurance.

First two ends went the way of ‘Superlube’ going two shots up despite not having the hammer. Thankfully for ‘Deemo’ the third end saw a reversal of fortunes and ‘Deemo’ secured a count of three – how? I cannot remember. End four saw ‘Superlube’ back in the mix to score a single shot and even up the game at three shots a piece. ‘Deemo’ was sweating again but eased the pressure gaining a two in the 5th end and claiming back the lead once more but handing the hammer back to ‘Superlube’. At this point it was becoming apparent that the sweeping duties were taking their toll – it had been a hard & continuous effort from the sweepers from the start with some shots reaping more rewards than others!

The sixth end saw a fair accumulation of stones in the head, as had previous ends, but they were in a tight cluster with rink Deemo having the better placement to count. A ‘hay maker’ from ‘Superlube’ as his final play was unable to clear all opposition stones but cleared two to leave ‘Deemo’ counting a three.

We did have time to play a seventh end but ‘Superlube’ conceded thinking that making up 5 shots to draw was a forlorn hope and the sweeping efforts all round had almost exhausted the will to live.

The game concluded with handshakes all round with none of the participants in a fit state to climb the stairs to the bar – it had been a good game but a hard physical effort.

My thanks to both rinks for making it such an enjoyable and hard-fought contest.

Bye for now.

Deemo.

Follow-up comment from Ken:

Slightly misleading, not everyone was in a poor state after the game. Donny, with his honed body and racing snake physique was just getting into his stride. A bit of sweeping was easy fare for an athlete used to a full hockey game. I called off a trip upstairs to the delights of the bar due to an early start the next day for a crucial Vets Match, but was more than able to continue with more ends. I think David was just being kind and considerate to the opposition!

Kind regards

Ken

Team B (John Mac) vs Team D (Rob Garner)  24th November 2025

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Kay had once more been drafted in as Team D’s fourth player but Billy was still hors de combat and despite an extensive trawl of Holyrood’s resources, no replacement was forthcoming. So still were we three. This was not great news for third, John W, who had developed an industrial strength cold and wasn’t exactly feeling like a lot of sweeping.

Team B on the other hand were at full strength, but got off to the worst of possible starts by dropping a five at the first end.  It could have gone either way though as John Mac’s first stone left them with two counters.  However, the stones were exposed and close together so with pinpoint accuracy, Rob cleared them both leaving Team D five stones to the good. John Mac was faced with executing a draw to the centre to save the end but sadly ran a little wide and heavy.

Team D took another single in the second before Team B opened their account in the third, also with a single.

The fourth end was similar to the first in that Team B were lying in a strong position to take the end by a couple of stones but for Rob, with the hammer, making a raised take-out, clearing their advantage for another single.

Despite a good lead, in curling you can never relax – it is all too easy to coast and then suddenly the game goes into reverse.  And in end six, Team B showed that the fight was still in them by taking a strong two.  However, the seventh saw some wayward shots, and they even unluckily promoted an opposition stone to count, so it ran out 11-3 in the end.

John.