TEAM SOUTAR AND TEAM STRAWHORN TRIUMPH AT FINAL ASHAM U21 SLAM OF THE SEASON
Many congratulations to Team Soutar (Callie Soutar, Eva Hare, Holly Clemie, Alison Hamilton) (Forfar) and Team Strawhorn (Jack Strawhorn, Hamish Gallacher, Kaleb Johnston, Rory Macnair) (Dumfries) who triumphed at the final Asham Under 21 Slam of the season held at Lockerbie.
Full results are available here.
WOMEN’S COMPETITION
Team Laurie (Tia Laurie, Hannah Farries, Kirsty Gallacher, Holly Burke, Robyn Mitchell) (Dumfries) and Team Soutar faced each other in the first draw of the competition. On that occasion, Team Laurie just had the edge in a 7-6 result. The game proved crucial with both sides winning their remaining section games and it thus deciding the rankings, Team Laurie going through to the play-offs as unbeaten table toppers with Team Soutar runners-up.
In the other section, Team Jahn (Rebecca Dalgleish, Hannah Green, Eve Marchbank, Jennifer Jahn) (Dumfries) and Team Seftor (Amy Seftor, Clare Cassells) (Curl Edinburgh) finished the round robin on an equal three in one record. The ranking went to head-to-head and the very first session of the competition where Team Jahn had clinched a 9-3 win over Team Seftor, giving them the Q1 spot.
The semi-finals were next with Team Soutar playing Team Jahn and Team Laurie taking on Team Seftor. After trading singles for the first five ends, Team Soutar made the difference with a big score of four in End 6 that prompted handshakes from Team Jahn at 6-2. Next door, Team Laurie blanked the first two ends before taking the lead over Team Seftor with a two and maintaining it with a force. The sides matched each other in the second half and Team Laurie carried the one-point advantage through for a 4-3 win.
Everything was set for an exciting rematch between Team Soutar and Team Laurie. After blanking the opening end, Team Laurie took the advantage with a score of one followed by a steal of the same number. However, Team Soutar responded with a three that gave them the lead at half time, albeit by a point only. Team Laurie equalised at the restart, but Team Soutar swiftly retaliated with a deuce and went on to steal in End 7, increasing the gap to three points with one end to go. When it became evident that Team Laurie would not be able to fabricate the points they needed, they opted to concede the game with stones to spare on 6-3.
In the play-off for third, it was all square at the break. However, Team Seftor opened the second half by stealing threes twice and decided the game 9-3 in their favour.
MEN’S COMPETITION
Team Strawhorn opened their campaign with a win over Team R Craik (Scott Hyslop, Ross Craik, Jack Carrick, Struan Carson) (Forfar) and continued in the same vein to complete their section undefeated at the top of the standings. Meanwhile, Team R Craik bounced back from the opening defeat to win all of their remaining games and progressed to the play-offs as runners-up.
In the other section, Team Thomson (Arran Thomson, Stewart Kyle, Lewis McCabe, Sam McConnachie) (Dewars, Perth) were in splendid form from the get-go and won all four of their round robin games to bag the Q1 spot. Meanwhile, Team Brewster (Ethan Brewster, Sam Lynch, Luke Perras, Fraser Riddoch) (Curl Aberdeen) were undefeated until their final group fixture where they fell to defeat at the hands of Team Thomson. Nevertheless, a three in one record was enough to send them through to the semi-finals.
On to the semi-finals where it was Team Strawhorn versus Team Brewster and Team Thomson versus Team R Craik. Team Strawhorn consistently held the upper hand by scoring deuces while forcing singles and bagged a 5-2 win over Team Brewster after seven ends. Meanwhile, Team Thomson had the brighter start with a score of four, but Team R Craik were able to respond with a three. The Forfar side equalised with a single steal and when they went on to steal again in the next three ends, Team Thomson admitted defeat on 7-4.
In a rematch of the opening fixture of the competition, Team Strawhorn took on Team R Craik in the final. Team Strawhorn were first on the board with a single, but, after blanking End 2, Team R Craik took the lead with a big four points. Singles were traded before Team Strawhorn scored three to tie the game with two ends to go. Team R Craik got the blank in End 7 to maintain hammer, but an excellent last end from Team Strawhorn saw them steal one for a 6-5 win.
Only one point separated Team Thomson and Team Brewster at half time in the play-off for third. However, four points at the restart gave Team Thomson the advantage and they brought it home for a 9-3 win.
