3rd December - The Decider!

There was an air of anticipation as the teams gathered for a late night climax to the Winter League. Everything to play for but there could only one team crowned champions at the end of the night.

Let’s start at Rink 6 where Mara has to negotiate past Alison If her rink was to triumph. After a quick start and 4-0 up after two, Alison pegged Mara back to 4-2 in the third. Undaunted, Mara cantered off with a five, which included a measure, just to add to the tension. At 9-2 after four ends it was fair to say she had control of the match and wasn’t likely to let a lead like that disappear.

So let’s pop over to rink 5 because anything could happen here. On an ends and shots basis Margaret has the biggest hill to climb if she was to take the title but a big win against Bill and if Mara faltered.......

Well it was Bill who made the best start, a two and a pair of singles against Margaret’s one put him 4-1 up after four ends. Everything was falling in to place. No matter what happens on Rink 6 he was in charge of his own destiny.

Into the fifth and Mara took a one. 10-2 she thought, that’ll do, way to canny to let this one slip. Meanwhile Margaret shook Bill with a three, the deficit was one. It wasn’t likely to be a high enough scoring game for her to take the title but Margaret could certainly spoil Bill’s night.

End six and Alison pops in a two, Mara was unfazed, she could see the finishing line and could afford to cruise. It was Margaret who took the blow of two from Bill, another cushion with two ends left, this was going to the wire.

Well despite Steve taking a tumble and almost heading a stone into the house ( thankfully he was ok) Alison took a single in the seventh and the teams shook at 10-5 to Mara. That was it. She could do no more. And then it got really interesting...........

Margaret, now trailing by three was not giving up the fight and with the last stone of the end slowly drawing down the ice and coming to a halt, the bell sounded. Margaret had taken a three! The game was peeled in the seventh.

But wait a minute, all is not done here, too much at stake. Call the TMO. Had the stone stopped before the bell, or after the bell? Could there be an eight end decider? The Skips discussed, much muttering from the sidelines and then it was agreed. An eighth end to decide the league champions. Margaret knew it wouldn’t be her but could she thwart Bill right at the last.

It was a tight end and with the last stone being thrown by Bill he needed a draw in to dislodge Margaret, who was lying two. A good effort dislodged one stone but not enough to do the damage. And that was it. Margaret won 7-6 and Mara won the league.

The winning Skip did provide a quote for this piece but I’ve forgotten it 😜 so all that’s left to say is

                                 CONGRATULATIONS TO MARA’s TEAM 🏆🥌🏆