TEAM KYLE CLAIM BALJAFFRAY TROPHY AT GREENACRES

Congratulations to Team Kyle (Stewart Kyle, Jack Halliday, Edward Hanna, Zac Trotter) who triumphed at the Asham Under 17 Slam in Greenacres. The Dumfries side saw off Forfar rivals Team Scanstone (Calum Skea, Arran Bruce, Donald Robertson, Ben Watson) in the HR final to claim the Baljaffray Trophy.

Both Team Kyle, yet undefeated, and Team Scanstone progressed to the play-offs from Section C. The former opened their semi-final fixture against Team Grant (Callum Grant, Gregor Troup, Fraser Rankin, Ben Rankin) (Greenacres) with a single steal to take an early lead. Team Grant retaliated to equalise though and a blank third end meant nothing could separate the sides at halftime. However, Team Kyle returned to the ice with a big score of four to take hold of the game and followed up with a one-point steal that extended the gap. Their Greenacres opponents got a multiple end on the board themselves, but three points weren’t enough.

Meanwhile in the other HR semi-final, Team Scanstone faced unbeaten Team Archibald (Katie Archibald, Tia Laurie, Katie Donald, Jessica Trotter) (Dumfries). Team Scanstone were first on the board with three points and the Forfar side kept their advantage when Team Archibald could only respond with a single. One point for Team Scanstone did little to stretch the gap, but they dealt a decisive punch with a four-points steal in End 4. Team Archibald fought hard and recorded a three to keep their chances alive, but their opponents bagged the win with a deuce in the final end.

The final was set to be a rematch between Team Kyle and Team Scanstone. The Dumfriesians struck first with two in the first end and followed it up with a force in the second. Another deuce in End 3 widened Team Kyle’s advantage, but Team Scanstone cut the gap with a one-point score followed by a single steal. With the scores on 4-3, it was all to play for in the last end. Team Kyle kept their composure and took one with hammer to win the game by five points to three. In the play-off for third, Team Archibald beat Team Grant 3-2.