TEAM LAURIE TAKE SECOND, TEAM STRAWHORN FIRST ASHAM U21 SLAM WIN OF THE SEASON AT CURL EDINBURGH
Many congratulations to Team Laurie (Tia Laurie, Hannah Farries, Holly Burke, Kirsty Gallacher, Robyn Mitchell) (Dumfries) and Team Strawhorn (Jack Strawhorn, Hamish Gallacher, Kaleb Johnston, Rory Macnair) (Dumfries) who triumphed at the Asham Under 21 Slam at Curl Edinburgh.
Full results are available here.
WOMEN’S COMPETITION
Team Laurie started the competition with a hard-fought 6-4 win over Team Leigh (Jodi Leigh Bass, Katie Archibald, Cara Davidson, Alex McMillan) (Dumfries) and were flying high from there. With another three wins, they secured a spot in the play-offs as table toppers. Team Leigh meanwhile bounced back from the initial defeat and themselves went on to collect three victories, sending them through to the next round.
Section D was less straightforward though. Team Trotter (Jessica Trotter, Katie Donald, Holly Smith) (Dumfries) won all of their fixture to progress with flying colours, but the three remaining sides all ended up on the same one in two record. The decision went to DSA and Team Jahn (Rebecca Dalgleish, Hannah Green, Eve Marchbank, Jennifer Jahn) (Dumfries) took the advantage with superior numbers.
Team Laurie looked in control of their semi-final when, despite losing a single steal in the first end, they got a massive six points on the board in the second and led 7-1 at the break. However, Team Jahn weren’t done just yet. They opened the second half with a single that didn’t do much to get them back into proceedings, but when they stole five in End 6, it suddenly was all square again. Team Laurie only managed a single in response initially but remained calm to steal one in the last end and edge victory.
The other semi-final was no less exciting with Team Leigh and Team Trotter trading scores for the first four ends, keeping things level at the break. Team Leigh struck at the restart with a steal of two that gave them the lead for the first time in the fixture. Team Trotter’s initial response was a single that couldn’t get them back ahead, but when they followed it up with a one-point steal, it was all square again with an end to go. Team Trotter had the better nerves in the end, stealing one and snatching the win.
After a blank first end, Team Trotter took the advantage in the final with a score of one followed by a steal of two. Team Laurie answered with a single but still trailed by two at the break. They opened the second half with a single steal but before they could start a run, Team Trotter intervened with a score themselves. Going into the last end, Team Trotter had the advantage on their side, being a point ahead and coming down with hammer. However, Team Laurie played an excellent final end and secured a two-points steal that earned them a 5-4 victory.
In the play-off for third, Team Jahn edged out Team Leigh by 9 points to 4.
MEN’S COMPETITION
Team Strawhorn started their campaign with a one-point victory over Team Grant (Callum Grant, Ben Rankin, Gregor Troup, Fraser Rankin) (Greenacres) and went on to remain undefeated in the group, gradually increasing their winning margins along the way. However, while they sat lonely at the top, things could not have been tighter for the second qualifying spot.
No less than three teams sat on the same two in two record and the ranking went down to DSA. Boasting superior numbers, it were Team Brewster (Ethan Brewster, Sam Lynch, Luke Perras, Fraser Riddoch) (Curl Aberdeen) who progressed to the semi-finals.
In Section A Team Swanston (Fraser Swanston, Jake MacDonald, Jamie Rankin, Jonathan Blair) (Forfar) too went unbeaten throughout, winning all of their fixtures comfortably. Meanwhile, Team Thomson (Arran Thomson, Stewart Kyle, Lewis McCabe, Sam McConnachie) (Dewars, Perth) bounced back from an initial defeat versus Team Swanston and won their next next three games to go through to the semi-finals as runners-up.
There was nothing to separate Team Swanston and Team Brewster halfway through their semi-final. Team Brewster struck first at the restart, getting a two on the board, but Team Swanston responded with a massive four that gave them the advantage. With the sides trading singles in the last two ends, no damage was done to the gap and Team Swanston bagged an 8-6 victory.
Meanwhile, Team Strawhorn were off to a flyer versus Team Thomson, opening with a three followed by a single steal. At the break, the sides were separated by four points already, but Team Thomson weren’t done yet. The went into the second half with a score of one and backed it up with a stolen two that reduced their deficit to just a single point. Team Strawhorn, in turn, blanked the seventh end and, coming down with hammer, secured a point in the last to win 7-5.
Going into the final, Team Strawhorn opted to stake their claim early with a four in the opening end. The sides traded singles before Team Swanston got a multiple end of two on to board to reduce their disadvantage to two points at the break. Singles were exchanged again at the restart and, once more, Team Strawhorn blanked the seventh end to maintain hammer. They made no mistake in the last end to bag a point and win the game 7-4.
In the play-off for third Team Brewster got the better of Team Thomson by six points to four.
