With John Mac’s knee still playing up, Team B were skipped by Rob, with Deemo kindly as sub, while in Team D Bob Cameron was subbing for Kay.

Team B lost the toss so led off, and managed to lay some counters well-guarded, so started with a 2 against the head.  Tight play ensued, with Deemo accurate at taking out some threatening blue counters, and Team B stole further singles at the next two ends.  

Team D then made some nice draws, to pull back with a 2.  Fifth end the ice was still curling a bit unpredictably, but Billy landed a couple of good stones while Alice had a counter in the four-foot.  Her final guard just held out to the right, so Rob with last stone for the first time in the game, was able to get through the port for a take-out and lie, to score a decisive 4.

So 8-2 with 20 mins left.  Alice drew well for a 2 in the sixth, then a front-of-house guddle in the seventh used up stones so the game ran out at 8-5.  It was certainly good to be back with full sweeping arrangements again, making for a fuller game with everyone more engaged in the action.

Rob.

Rinks  : ‘C’ ‘Deemo’, ‘Hoss’, ‘I don’t believe it’; ‘Hi Dee Hi’

              ‘D’ ‘Tides out’; ‘Special K’; ‘Sweet Chariot’.  

Rink ‘D’ were thrown into disarray when ‘The Fort’ turned up but announced she was down to play with another club at the same time!!!!! Hoots Mon, Sacre Bleu, whit next for the rink of five? Three noble gladiators left to hold the fort.

So,  rink ‘D’ took to the ice as a three knowing that they were starting with a three shot penalty (which is not enough given their joint expertise and fire power). 

Ends one and two went the way of rink ‘Deemo’ taking singles at each with both rinks doing some majestic sweeping with stones that had been ‘doctored’ by the ice staff  to make them swing more.

End three saw a single taken by rink ‘D’ to get them on the board.  End four saw rink ‘Deemo’ count two shots to lead four shots to one.

End five saw a clutter of stones round the front of the house with ‘Deemo’ counting five shots, four around the periphery and one sitting on or near the pot lid. With ‘Deemo’ not playing an accurate guard shot there was a channel through the front stones to take out the centre counter – could ‘Tides out’ navigate that narrow channel?  He certainly did and played a blinder calling on ‘Sweet Chariot’ to sweep at critical points – what was looking as a five for rink ‘Deemo’ was turned into a single for rink ‘D’.

The sixth end saw rink ‘Deemo’ sitting with two shots front and back of the pot lid with a collection of stones at the front of the house preventing a striking shot – ‘Tides out’ and ‘Special K’ decided a draw shot was the only option and again it was played to perfection with ‘Sweet Chariot’ doing the sweeping with the stone coming to rest sitting tucked away on the pot lid with an opposing stone at its rear for security. ‘Deemo’ threw a desperate last shot in an attempt to ‘move things around’ but it was to no avail, one shot to rink ‘D’.

The seventh end saw another steal of one for rink ‘D’ to complete the match at four shots a piece but with the penalty of three shots rink ‘Deemo’ secured the win!! (A draw would have been a fair outcome).

Not that rink ‘Deemo’ played poorly, quite the contrary with no shots having been played through the house and sweeping when called upon till they felt like dropping – draw shots and take-outs being  called and played without fail. It was one of those nights when rink ‘D’ just had the edge.

Rink ‘C’ still march onwards in search of glory – who’s up next?

The match as remembered by?            

‘Deemo’