TEAMS MITCHELL AND O CARSON TRIUMPH AT ASHAM U21 SLAM LOCKERBIE JUNIOR INVITATION
Congratulations to Team Mitchell (Amy Mitchell, Robyn Mitchell, Hannah Farries, Kirsty Gallacher) (Greenacres) and Team O Carson (Orrin Carson, Logan Carson, Archie Hyslop, Charlie Gibb) (Dumfries) who snatched the wins at the final Asham Under 21 Slam of the season. They saw off local sides Team Leigh (Jodi Leigh-Bass, Holly Burke, Lindsay Haggart, Holly Smith) and Team Strawhorn (Jack Strawhorn, Hamish Gallacher, Rory MacNair, Kaleb Johnston) in the Lockerbie Junior Invitation held at Dumfries Ice Bowl.
WOMEN’S COMPETITION
Overall series leaders Team Mitchell kept their form going in Dumfries. They went through the section games unbeaten, winning all their games without all ends needing to be played. Facing Team Smith (Tamzin Smith, Ailsa Hood, Isla Riddoch, Maisie Dey, Sara Smith) (Aberdeen) in the semi-final, the Greenacres side had the brighter start to the game. After a blank first end, Team Mitchell were first on the board with a deuce. Team Smith cut the deficit with a single, but their opponents dealt a decisive punch with four points from End 4. They extended their advantage with a one-point steal and even two consecutive singles from Team Smith could not prevent a 7-3 win.
Equally undefeated Team Leigh were up against fellow Dumfriesians Team Archibald (Erin Stewart, Katie Archibald, Tia Laurie, Katie Donald, Jessica Trotter) in the other semi-final. Team Archibald took an early lead with singles from the first two ends, but Team Leigh equalised in End 3. They went on to pull away with a stolen deuce, but consecutive singles for Team Archibald meant it was all square again after six ends. End 7 proved decisive with four points for Team Leigh that bagged them an 8-4 win and a place in the final.
Team Leigh opened the scoring in the final with a single, but Team Mitchell responded with a deuce. It was level again with a point for Team Leigh, but it was the Greenacres side who had the lead at the break with a single in End 4. At the restart, Team Mitchell grabbed the momentum with two stolen points, however, Team Leigh secured a deuce in return and kept the game open. A tactical blank maintained hammer for Team Mitchell going into the final end. They played their advantage to perfection and scored a big four points that made it a 9-4 win. In the play-off for third, Team Archibald saw off Team Smith 6-2.
MEN’S COMPETITION
Scottish junior champions Team O Carson were on a roll on home ice and flew through the section games with a perfect record. However, up against Edinburgh’s Team Tonkita (David Beesley, Jamie Rankin, Callum McLain, Kyle McLain) in the semi-final, they were on the backfoot in the early stages. The capital side were first on the board with a stolen point in End 2 and, initially, Team O Carson could only respond with a single themselves. The momentum changed though when the Dumfriesians stole a big three points in End 4 and took the lead at the break. Back on the ice, Team Tonkita only managed one and Team O Carson put the game to bed by scoring five in End 6 for an 8-2 win.
Elsewhere, Team Strawhorn dropped games for the first time in an Asham Under 21 Slam this season but still reached the play-offs where they faced Team Thomson (Arran Thomson, Lewis McCabe, Jamie Gorton, Sam McConnachie, William Gorton) (Perth). They recovered their previous form and ran away with a 6-1 win.
The final lined up as a rematch of the Scottish junior decider earlier in the season with Team O Carson competing with Team Strawhorn. It took until End 3 for the deadlock to be broken, but eventually, Team O Carson were first on the board with a deuce. The sides traded singles for the next three ends, meaning they arrived at the final end with the standings sitting on 4-2. Team Strawhorn bravely threw everything at their opponents, but when it became clear they wouldn’t get the points they needed, they conceded without the final stones being played. In the play-off for third, Team Thomson narrowly saw off Team Tonkita by eight points to six.
