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An interesting contest of contrasting strategies.  The fact that it was a struggle from the outset to achieve seven ends within the session said it all. It meant the wider game management was increasingly telling.  Rink ‘A’ ‘s strategy was a carefully measured rate for each stone, while Rink ‘C’ adopted a noticeably quicker and wider strategy.

Rink ‘C’ quickly built what felt like a confident and solid lead of four points in the first two ends. As ever the expectation of a Rink ‘A’ counter remained. However, by mid-session there was a sense that ‘C’ had managed to contain ‘A’.  Increasingly during the second half the slow rate of play gave a sense that time was running out (possibly three ends) for a robust challenge. So ‘C’s strategy became one of increasing containment, protecting their lead and ensuring there were insufficient stones for a winning score at each end. While in the last end ‘C’ preferred not to risk a challenge to Rink ‘A’ ‘s two counting stones, instead containing Rink ‘A’ ‘s last end and total score to less than ‘C’s overall lead, there-by ensuring the win. 

George Morrison

What a difference a day makes (well a week actually) in this cruel sport of curling.  From their demolition of Team Deemo just seven days ago, it was the turn of league leaders Team MacConnachie to be, if not demolished, then brought to earth with a bump by a rampant Team Waterlow.  After seven ends the final score was eight stones to two – if Team Mac were a football club, would the directors be asking the manager some awkward questions?  Probably not yet – after all they remain just one point off the top of the table and the season is yet young.

It all started so well for Team Mac with a good single stone win in the first end.  But then the drought set in as Team W went on to takes the next four ends.  Team W’s front end of Fiona and Richard was doing a great job at placing stones in the house while their third, Jim “Superlube” Craig, was on cracking form – almost literally as he went for take-outs leaving his more cautious skip to play the safer guards and draws.

To give them their due, Team Mac were playing well but were just not getting the rub of the green. At the second end,  JW managed to draw in to a crowded centre to lie two and John Mac couldn’t quite follow it in – JW chickened out of playing his last stone rather than risk disaster.  And the third end fell in Team W’s favour by three stones when John Mac was unable to shift a stone in the house left exposed by JW – a bounce at the right angle could have changed the result considerably. Another two singles to Team W took the lead to 7-1 at the fifth.

JW could do nothing about a well-guarded stone to give a fine single in the sixth to Team Mac but that was it – Team W took the final end by one stone for a convincing overall victory. 

But we are still at the stage of the season when fortunes can shift rapidly.  There are lots of games still to come.  No-one in Team W is counting any chickens.

John W.