Oh the shame – just six ends. Sorry Jim! Excuses include that we had not one, but two, time consuming measures and also the rink timer wasn’t set at the beginning of the game so perhaps the ice men were guessing when they rang the final bell. Anyway, full report from Deemo follows. JW

Match 13 of 15 in the Main League for Deemo

The night after our encounter with our friends from ‘Good old USA’ at least three of us were wondering if we could adopt the ‘Manitoba tuck’ style of delivery as exhibited by Ryan (of Rock Creek CC in Lafayette). The answer was a resounding NO.

This was to be a particularly interesting fixture tonight with visions of the League trophy almost within touching distance for both. Fixtures between the rinks had been fairly even through the season with rink ‘C’ holding three wins to two over ‘D’ with 9 shots up and 6 ends up. Both rinks have been fairly consistent in their members with Maverick, Tides Out and Snudge now being assisted by Alan Campbell (nom de plume tbd) whilst Deemo was ably assisted by Round them Up, the Constable and Scalpel.

Hands shaken, coin tossed we took to the ice with Scalpel having secured the hammer for Deemo in the first end.

A two scored by rink Deemo in the first end was followed by a single in the second – a good start and the initial tension eased!!! Both ends having seen the need for the thirds to revert to the measure after much stone gazing and contemplation had not resolved any issues. Time was ebbing away – who was playing for time this early on?  End three saw Maverick strike back with a score of two and the tension returned to Deemo who were now only one shot up.

Subsequently ends four and five saw single scores for Deemo whilst the sixth end resulted in a score of two shots for Deemo. The bell had sounded prior to us throwing last skip stones in end 6 with the culmination of the game and a win for rink Deemo 7 shots to 2. The score was not truly reflective of the game as ends had been very close with Maverick having two shots, in separate ends, that just scliffed opposing stones which redirect his stone away from a possible score of one in each. A ‘scliff’ is a very slight touch on another stone whilst a ‘sclaff’ is an altogether heavier contact.

So, there we have it; Rink Deemo is edging closer to the title but nothing was said of that as we partook of a ‘wee swally’ in the upstairs lounge.

Till the next time – all the very best to one and all.

Bye for now. Deemo

The following report from Team Craig member Dougie was untitled. However, I have taken the liberty of giving it the obvious title. I also nominate it as “Holyrood Match Report of the Season”. It contains all the drama and humour one could hope for in a curling game report. JW.

THE WRONG SHOES

As you know Jim was unable to attend and despite valiant efforts failed to find a sub so we three Musketeers (Dougie, James and Richard) soldiered on.

John Mac arrived a tad fraught and it transpired that he had left his curling shoes at home in the hall. However, having found some spare ‘kippers’, he was able to step on the ice and his unique delivery style became even more unique – ‘kippers’ really don’t slide.

Playing on sheet #1 – we all wondered what the edge effect might be and also, as ‘Try Curling’ had been using that sheet in the previous session, whether that would have an impact.

Well, it did – the ‘wall’ side was really rough towards the edge but the sheet was very slick on the other (rink) side and much slower but with more swing.

Despite having lost the toss Team Mac settled to win the first end by one point.

Team Craig won the second, levelling the game (Auld skipping).

Give and take continued and after three ends the game was still all square.

Shooting three stones and single sweeping was starting to take its toll though, so radically, Team Craig decided on a new strategy and rotated skips and other roles.

So going into end four, James Mackintosh was in the house and Auld leading. Richard sweeping his socks off.

Team Craig must have rattled the opposition as the strategy of long guards (more by luck than judgement) and some outrageous luck put Team Craig three points in the lead by end six.

The rolling skip strategy placed Richard in the house for end seven with 20 minutes of play left.

Again, long guards flooded the entry to the house protecting the two counting stones sent earlier by James and Dougie. Somehow Richard managed to find a way through and promoted another to count three.

Six minutes on the clock and score 9-3 to Team Craig.

Last end and again a gaggle of stones blocking the house. Five stones just counting in the rear eight foot. John Mac’s last stone due to be delivered, his previous having opened up a slot which could not be blocked by the opposition.

Somehow – and nobody could believe it – the last stone worked its way down the sheet edge (rink side) and with the assistance of superb sweeping, curled at the perfect time and with perfect weight right onto the button!  And this, to paraphrase ‘Wallace & Gromit’, with the WRONG SHOES.

Despite defeat John Mac walked off the ice head held high.

A great game – lots of fun and we retired to the lounge to reflect.

As usual I reserve the right to say all the above is imaginary – except the result, of course.

Dougie.