TEAM CARSON DOUBLE UP, TEAM SOUTAR CLAIM FIRST WIN AT ASHAM U21 SLAM IN PERTH
Many congratulations to Team Soutar (Callie Soutar, Eva Hare, Holly Clemie, Alison Hamilton) (Forfar) who clinched their first Asham Under 21 Slam victory and to Team O Carson (Orrin Carson, Logan Carson, Archie Hyslop, Charlie Gibb) (Dumfries) who doubled up with their second win running in the series in Perth.
WOMEN’S COMPETITION
Team Soutar won their first three section games, but they wouldn’t have it all their own way in the end. Up against Team Seftor (Amy Seftor, Clare Cassells, Julia Broadwood, Rachel Eadie) (Curl Edinburgh) in the very last fixture, they fell to their first defeat. Although Team Seftor had previously missed out to Team Huntly (Tamzin Smith, Layla Huntly, Erin McCluskey, Callie McMinn) (Dumfries), and also sat on a three in one record, they progressed as group toppers on direct comparison with Team Soutar runners-up.
It was a similar story in the other section. Team Laurie (Tia Laurie, Hannah Farries, Holly Burke, Robyn Mitchell) (Dumfries) were unbeaten until their final fixture versus Team McCartney (Ishbel McCartney, Jessica Trotter, Katie Donald, Holly Smith) (Dumfries) to finish on three in one. Team Thomson (Cara Thomson, Islay McKenzie, Samantha Torrance, Sophie Hamilton) (Perth) sat on the same record but had to settle for runner-up on direct comparison.
On to the semi-finals and both fixtures turned tense and tight. Teams Seftor and Thomson were all square after five ends before the latter dealt what turned out to be the decisive punch with a three-points steal. Now well in the lead, they brought their advantage over the line. Meanwhile, Team Laurie led by a single point with one to go but an excellent end from Team Soutar saw them score four and roar into the final.
In contrast, the final was astonishingly straightforward. Although Team Soutar were forced to a single in the opening end, they went on to steal in the four ends. Team Thomson eventually conceded after the minimum amount of ends played, 7-0 the final scoreline. In the play-off for third, Team Laurie got the better of Team Seftor by seven points to one after five ends. Full results are available here.
MEN’S COMPETITION
Team O Carson were on form again in Perth and went through their section games undefeated to progress into the play-offs. Team R Craik (Ross Craik, Scott Hyslop, Jack Carrick, Struan Carson) (Forfar) finished runner-up, their only loss coming to the dominant Dumfriesians.
The other section lined up very much the same way with Team Swanston (Fraser Swanston, Jake MacDonald, Jamie Rankin, Jonathan Blair) (Forfar) going unbeaten. One defeat to their name, Team Brewster (Ethan Brewster, Sam Lynch, Luke Perras, Fraser Riddoch, Marc Lynch) (Curl Aberdeen) qualified as runners-up.
With four pretty much flawless performances trough the section games, the semi-finals were shaping up to be a cracker. The fixture between Teams R Craik and Swanston certainly delivered on this expectation with the two Forfar sides repeatedly cancelling each other’s scores out. Team Swanston led by two with one end to go, but, coming down with hammer, Team R Craik scored the required deuce to take proceedings to a tense extra end. Eventually, a two-points steal decided the fixture in Team R Craik’s favour. In contrast, the other semi-final was in the books after just six ends, Team O Carson taking big points in 4 and 5 and not allowing Team Brewster to recover.
True to form, Team O Carson opened the final with a score and a steal to lead by three after two end played. Team R Craik responded with a single that was swiftly rendered insignificant when their opponents scored a massive four just before the break. A blank fifth did nothing to impact the standings and Team R Craik subsequently conceded, 7-1 the final score. Elsewhere, Team Swanston played a comprehensive game to beat Team Brewster 6-1 in the play-off for third. Full results are available here.
