You Thought Last Week Was Tight………..

 Match 3 of the Spring League saw Teams A and C pit their wits and skills to see who might sit top of the league.

The first end had a sticky start with the ice slowing a few stones and not giving much of a draw down either side. Some stones did make it into the house and the tight lines set the tone for the match, a single went to Team A.

A similar start in the second end and a similar situation as the head developed. Not much being given by either side and with Team C, guest skipped by Alison, lying two, there was no way for Jim to draw in quite enough with his last stone, to make a difference. 

This game was taking shape with accurate shots testing each team and the occasional wayward shot being followed by dark mutterings (often from the writer it must be said 🤨). Both teams were really on it. With the hammer, Alison had an opportunity to tap Jim’s counting stone and lie two. An accurate draw, some vigorous sweeping and the stones connected but with Jim’s the one moving closer to the centre. The thirds had a good look and it went to a measure. A single went to Team C.

The fourth end followed the pattern with each side squeezing stones through gaps, knocking stones through and no one building a really solid head. Another single, to Team A.

In the fifth it looked for a time that the A Team were taking control. The ice was still not giving up much of a draw, limiting both teams and keeping things tight. Jim was lying two and once again Alison had the hammer to try and spoil the show.  Draw, sweep, cajole the stone and it inched into the house. It was certainly a score to Team A but if they were to take two it would be another measure. And once again it came out in favour of Team C.

End six was played in the same way as the rest of the match. Tight, equal and no one getting ahead. You’ve guessed it, another single and it put the A Team in front as we went into the seventh end. The clock was ticking, it didn’t look like there would be an eighth. So this was it!

Jim took control early on and guarded well his scoring stone. Alison managed to sneak in and keep him to a single counting yellow and with gaps on both sides Jim could only guard one side. He did this perfectly but Alison had a chance to draw down the left and with enough weight, sneak into the eight foot. 

The weight was good, the line was right, the sweepers stayed on it all the way and the stone did its job. Yet another single and the game was peeled. 

It was a great match, never anything in it, accurate shot making and lots of hard sweeping. Well done to both teams !

Nip and Tuck……..kind of.

 Match Two of the Spring league proved to be a tight affair…..honest!

The ice was sticky and slow to start with, challenging all the players to find their weight and length. In the first end this caused a right old guddle but there were a couple of gaps and it was Team B who found one, held it, took the single against the head and moved on to the second end. 

It was similar situation going back down the ice, not many opportunities to build a decent head, some stones actually drifted through the back but most hung about out front giving the Skips some head scratching when trying to find a way through. Once again it was Team B who prevailed and took another single.

Into the third end and there was still nothing in it, tight head, few gaps, it was going to require a wick from somewhere to get a score and with the Red stones lying one it looked like they were going to prevail. However the last stone wicked the wrong way, slide a yellow onto the two foot and Joe’s C Team were on the board.

The ice was starting to speed up, the teams had got their eye in and the game was still as tight as a tight thing. Joe was guarding a single and Jim could not make any progress, so if was another single and the score was 2-2. Absolutely nothing in it. 

In the fifth things began to change, Joe again built a head and Jim was looking to get in his way. Not this time. Joe was in control and the first two of the match went on the board.

The match has now found a pattern, tight heads, small gaps, not much being given by either side and often one good stone making the difference. Team C stayed strong and took a couple more singles so going into the last end it was 6-2.

The eighth end was tit for tat with stones being dislodged by both sides but not much in the way of good scores looking likely. Jim had several stones in the eight and twelve foot but with his last stone Joe found a draw and gently slipped almost on to the button. Jim had one shot, wick off his own stone, slide across the house, tap the scoring yellow out and lie five to Peel (the irony of scoring five was not lost on Jim!)

It looked good as it travelled down the ice but was just too true as it wicked off his own stone. It slid towards the scoring yellow, tapped it but only nearer the button. Another single to Joe and a 7-2 win.The scorecard does not reflect how tight this match was but a win is a win!

Well done Joe and Team C 😊🥌

New Year, New League, New Rules!

 At last! Back on the ice after our Christmas break.

Time to experience the new Restriction Guidelines under match conditions with The Two Jims.

The first end was a little bit of a gentleman’s excuse me as sweepers were offering to do their bit. 

Will I, will you, no I’ll take this,  one at a time remember………and while all that was getting sorted out Jim P took a single.

Clearly he thought he’d try the same tactic in the second end as he cunningly guddled the front of house whilst simultaneously building a head. What’s that? A three already!  Swiftly followed by a single and Jim L’s B Team we’re five down having played well and not done much wrong.

Time to fight back!

Some accurate shots and clever tactics gave the B Team a three and then a two. So after five ends - five all. A fair position for both teams who were matching each other almost shot for shot. However it was the B Team who struck out again and took a two putting them ahead by two with two ends to go.

End seven was a tight affair each team knocking stones out, front of house well guarded but a couple, of gaps to exploit. With Jim Ls last stone he really had a shot to nothing, get it through the gap on the left and sit on the button to lie one and hope that Jim P wouldn’t match him. That would mean losing a three and guess what………Team A took the three thanks to dead eye JP!🥌🥌🥌

The final end was similarly tight and tactical but with his last stone Jim L had a chance for glory. Tap the scoring red stone out and he’d lie two, taking the match. 

The stone was good, the line was right, the sweeping was perfect, avoiding the guards and heading straight to that pesky red. Tap. It had gone and the yellow was spinning in towards the four foot. Excellent.

But dear reader that was not the end. For the stone kept spinning, towards the button and the scoring yellow. They touched, they slid and we watched as they both passed the four, the eight, the rink and out of play!!!!

Still dear reader that was not the end ……… the almost perfect stone, an inch away from greatness had cleared the house of yellows and left five, yes FIVE red stones. As I write there are still tears streaming down my cheeks 😭😭😭😭😭

Congratulations A Team, what a great game!