Eleven is the magic number

Tuesday saw round seven of the Spring League and the matches were yet again competitive and exciting.

Jim took on David with both getting off to a high scoring start and Jim capitalising the most. A three traded with a four from David then another three from Jim. He followed that with a two which gave him a strong lead. He never looked back and although David as ever gave a run for his money, making Jim fight for every shot, it wasn’t until the seventh end that he registered another score. 

By then Jim was out of sight and with a shot tally that looked more like a phone number  3 0 3 2 2 1 0   ( it’s a taxi firm in Shettleston before you try it) the match’s was won in seven ends at 11-5.

On Rink Four Joe took on Steve. This has the making of an interesting match as Joe had only lost one match so far and that was to Steve. Again this was a close game in terms of tactics and shot making. 

It should have been sponsored by Right Guard thanks to the perspiration created from the sweepers trying to get guards up and failing miserably! Despite those shenanigans it was a case of last stones making the difference between a shot and a miss. 6-4 after four ends does not reflect the way the game had developed but Joe might not have seen it that way. 

Steve took his chances and stuck to his tactics and led 9-4 after seven ends. The teams went into the eighth with Joe clearly thinking a peel was on as a minimum. For a while he was absolutely on it and giving Steve a lot to think about. Ultimately Joe was left with a tricky last stone to knock Steve out and get a score but it wasn’t to be. Steve took another two and the match finished 11-4.

So eleven was the magic number this week. Steve has leaped over Joe on shots but there are two matches left. This league isn’t over and as we’ve seen in recent weeks, it would be foolhardy to predict what will happen in round eight.

A week off as it’s Doubles night next week but keep watching, it’s a cracking League!  

Congratulations Alison!

Congratulations to Alison who was part of Team McCorkell of Troon Portland who were Silver Medal winners at the RCCC Scottish Masters Championship at Greenacres. The link below tells you a little more. However when I spoke to an ever modest Alison on Tuesday she showed me her medal but omitted to mention the bountiful booty that went with it!

Well done to Alison and her teammates!
🥌🥈🍾🥌🥈🍾🥌🥈

https://www.ayrcurlingclub.co.uk/news/season-2019-20/aileen-mccorkell-runners-up-in-masters/

11th February Matches

Your intrepid reporter had to miss yet another game this week but was able to watch from rinkside for the second half of the matches and it was great to see each one developing after the high scoring matches of last week.

Jim was up against Steve and the score does not reflect the needle match that was going on end after end. The complete opposite of last week’s big ends, singles were scored in each of the seven ends. My on ice sources were keeping me updated regarding the state of play at the far end and there were opportunities for big scores on both sides, being pipped by final stones doing just enough. 

Frustratingly from Jim’s perspective those last stones were not sliding his way and he had to wait until the sixth end before he got on the scorecard. It ended 6-1 to Steve. We have to thank two friends from Disnae for stepping in at the last minute to ensure we had seven players on the ice. 

Over on the other rink it was a similar story, lots of last stones deciding the end and my sources reported that strong heads were being built but accurate deliveries were nicking the points. It was Joe against David and the run of play was frustrating for some and encouraging for others. Much like the other match the scoring was one sided, in Joe’s favour, it was end five before David recorded a score. This was a tactical match and either side could have triumphed. After eight ends Joe came out on top 9-3 but it could have been very different. 

In the league Joe has a two point lead over Steve and he’s only dropped two points........to Steve. Guess who plays who next week! But don’t write off David or Jim either. Looking at the results over the last four weeks you can’t predict what’s going to happen when these four teams take to the ice. 

So log in next week to see the latest instalment 😉🏆

Late Night Shotfests

This report is a week late but the games on 4th Feb must have been surreal for those participating.

It’s not clear if some players had been on the red bull but two teams were certainly flying at the late evening matches. This league has certainly had it all, from peels to big wins and this was a big win week.

League leader Joe took on Jim and clearly started the match with a show on intent, taking a three then losing a one. With consecutive threes in ends three and four he was already 9-1 at the halfway and Jim was really up against it. Jim took a single in the fifth which energised Joe who racked up five shots in the next two wens to win 14-2.

It sounds like a bruising game but I’m reliably informed it wasn’t the run away game that the score line suggests. Just one of those nights when it all fell to one team and Joe was the beneficiary.

Meanwhile David was up against Steve and after two ends there was nothing remarkable in the score at 2-1 to Steve. Then a run of 4-2-4 shots to Steve took everyone by surprise. Despite the numbers I hear each end was one stone away from a single but like Joe, the ice was with Steve and no matter what David threw at him, it was going to be Steve’s game. David did take another two ends but the last end was a big score for Steve. 18-4 was the final score.

So after two weeks of teams trading shot for shot, this was a compete contrast. It’s shaken up the table a bit with almost everyone shuffling places. Joe is still in front but it’s close!

Tuesday 30th Matches

Both rinks had full teams on this week (yes I know 😗)

Rink three saw Steve against Alison stepping into Joes shoes. Both teams had their eye in early on and it was tight for the first four ends. Two ends each and all square at 2-2 at that point. But Alison put the foot down and built up well guarded heads in ends five and six. Before you could say “we need a take out” Alison had a 9-2 lead and looked comfortable for the win. Steve came back in the seventh with a two and the match ended at 9-4. It was a tight game with not much in it and goes to show how the odd shot can turn a match. Well played Alison, Joe couldn’t have done better! 

Meanwhile Dave and Jim were doing their best to replicate last weeks ding dong matches trading shots and ends. Not quite the symmetrical scoring as they took two ends each to sit all square at 3-3 after four ends. The trend continued for the next three ends each one a single and Jim took the seventh end to win 5-4. No doubt Dave was hoping they’d play an eighth but time was against him and the possibility of a “repeel” has passed. 

Once again this week the games were both close and exciting. The league is starting to take shape. Joe is still on top, whilst Dave and Steve have swapped places. Almost at the halfway point, too early to call. So come back next week to see whose making gains and whose fighting back!

Spring League 21st January 2020

What a night of curling!!
Joe Miller's team of Alison, Robin and Jennifer played a stormer against Dave Pittam's 3 man team of himself, Anne & Richard.
Fullarton Curling Club  has never witnessed such a close game with no more than 1 point being conceded at any end. The scoring see-sawed back and forth until the game concluded after 8 ends at 4-4 (a peel)!  Well played!

On Sheet 1 we had 2 three man teams.  Jim Paxton's team of  himself, Mabel and Ronnie also had an extremely close game against Steve McCreath, Margaret & Campbell. Jim's team took an early lead of 3 points then Steve fought back with 3 points in the 4th end and 3 points in the 5th end. Jim made a late come back and they finished at 6 points each.(another peel!)

Everyone enjoyed playing such good games and to a high standard. Well played everyone!

Spring League Fixture List

The Spring League Fixture List has a small omission in the matches listed. All four teams are playing on 28th January. There is a gremlin in my spreadsheet that is refusing to let me populate the cell that would show A v B.