Ladies
The
first games of the ladies Section saw Aitken v Murray and
Jackson v Ward
A
spirited display by all players resulted in both being tight games.
Aitken
and Murray were pealed going into the last. Aitken had last shot
and needed to draw to the 4 foot to beat the opposition – good
judgement and sweeping saw her do this.
Jackson
had a two shot lead going into the 8th
however Ward evened up the game forcing an extra end.
Jackson
had the hammer and like Aitken needed to draw to the button to win
and on / off sweeping caused some concern for those watching from
afar, but Jackson’s crew got the shot there to win with pin point accuracy.
In
the 1st
two ends Murray took a 2 and a single to go 3 up and Gina got a
single in the 3rd.
The
4th
saw two yellow guards but with two blues in the 8 foot. Aitken’s
3rd
– Rowena Kerr played a lovely long raise on one of the guards
straight onto the oppositions centre stone. This was countered by
the opposition 3rd
– Naomi Brown who removed it and there were now 3 blues. Then
Aitken 3rd
again played a nice shot and hit and roll to the shot. Murray
caught a guard trying to remove the shot yellow. Aitken then drew
the front of the 4 foot with her 1st
shot and Murray elected to hit and roll which she got well – coming
to rest guarded and beside the opposition yellow. Aitken just fell
short with her centre draw leaving Murray the opportunity of taking
out the other yellow however we are not sure what happened with the
played stone but Murray only took a one.
The
5th
end saw Aitken take a single and as we watched the end stones in the
6th
saw Rowena Kerr draw a lovely shot between some guards to tap her own
shot back. Murray’s 3rd
quickly played and took off a guard and Aitken drew her 1st
shot to the front of the 4 foot. The double was on for Murray’s
shot if the angles were right but they were not and the hit shot
jammed and stayed in the 4 foot. Aitken needed to draw to the 4
foot which she did and Murray elected to draw the 4 foot. The
sweepers were quickly on the stone but to not avail and Aitken
claimed her 3 to go 1 up going into the 7th.
The
7th
saw lots of stones in the house and some guards but as the skips went
to play, Murray was shot and guarded. Aitken elected to play a
long guard and cleared a road for her next shot. Murray played a
nice guard and left Aitken to play an angled raise using her shot in
the 4 foot to remove the two opposition stones. There was no
screaming or raised voices and the shot sailed up the ice and she did
her job – removing one opposition stone but apparently not lying
shot herself. Again Ward looked to draw the shot but despite the
efforts of the sweepers she did not make her 2nd
shot and the score was now pealed going into the last end with Aitken
having the hammer.
Going
into the last 7 stones the house was empty but when Aitken went to
pay her last shot she had a pressure shot to get to the 4 foot or
lose the game. Some spirited sweeping and good judgement saw her
take the game.
Ward
took a 1 in the first and their play was not as fast as the other
game. Sophie Jackson was left to play her last shot for a draw to
the 4 foot to save one if not two shots. This was a tight shot as
the opposition were just to the centre of the front of the 4 foot –
however Sophie showed a cool head and drew the shot to save the end.
The
3rd
end saw many shots in play and Ward had a line of 3 stones in the
centre guarding her single shot in the 8 foot at 6 o’clock.
Jackson’s 2nd shot was a bit light and came up short of the 12
foot. Ward then drew the 8 foot and got her two.
As
the bloggers stopped for food the next three ends were recorded only
by the Ward coach and the score board. So the 4th
and 5th
went to Jackson and as we move the final shots into the 6th
we have Jackson 4 – 3 up.
Playing
her first shot Sophie was faced with two opposition stones counting
and deep guards in place. A nicely drawn shot to the 4 foot
however was still there to be moved however Ward’s stone was
slightly fast and never drew giving Jackson a steal and the score is
5- 3 in her favour.
When
Sophie went to play her 1st
shot the only one in play was a red touching the button. This
ended up in the 12 foot and left Ward playing a nice weight and
nearly got the double. Jackson hit the opposition out and left Ward
having to play the centre stone however she rolled out leaving a
blank end, Jackson with the hammer and 2 up.
Ward
was not giving up and half way through she was lying two in the
centre and an outer guard. Jackson played the guard and it angled
to the centre and removed the two opposition stones. Ward played
into the house and allowed Jackson the opportunity of a raised double
which nearly succeeded.
Shots
later Ward was lying with stones either side in the 8 foot and a wide
double by Jackson nearly paid off. Ward again played a guard and
Jackson made to remove the only blue – the shot however went
through a gap that surely was too small for it. Ward drew another
shot to the back of the 12 foot.
Interest
in the other game resulted in the next shot being missed however
there was no change in the head. Sophie hit and rolled out with
her last shot and Ward redeemed her earlier shots by drawing for a
two and the game going to an extra end.
This
end saw 9 shots played and Sophie in trouble with two blue in the
house and guards out front. Although she cleared one shot in the
house a guard was quickly in place again. Jackson played this off –
perhaps also looking for a hole to the shot stone. Ward’s first
stone was a nice guard and Sophie removed it. Two shots to go –
Ward’s 2nd
stone was again a good guard and Sophie elected for the draw to the 4
foot to win the end.
Some
on and off sweeping caused concern about the flight of the stone and
this was not helped by Sophie and the 3rd
showing hand signs it may be too heavy however good playing by Sophie
and good judgement by the sweepers and the 3rd
saw the stone come to rest on the button.
Really
the four ladies teams all played some great shots and made some great
judgement calls which it is hoped will give us a good weekend ahead.
No comments:
Post a Comment