Another great season of curling in the Kootenay Savings Super League has come to a close in Trail. The last games were based upon the final round robin standings, with 1 vs 2, 3 vs 4, 5 vs 6 etc.
Team Deane Horning and Team Myron Nichol tied their first game of the season, and it was the only point Team Horning would lose all year, rattling off 18 straight wins in one of the more dominating team displays in recent KSSL history.
On Thursday, Team Horning took one in the 1st, then stole three in the 2nd when Skip Myron’s last rock take out got caught in a straight spot. Team Horning added another steal of two in the 3rd. Team Nichol guarded third’s Garry Beaudry’s perfect hit n roll for one in the 4th, then stole a single in the 5th when Skip Horning’s last rock draw was heavy. Team Nichol was looking to steal again in the 6th, but Skip Horning had other ideas, executing a perfect peel weight pick for a field goal, and a hand shaking 9-2 win.
Team Bill van Yzerloo, skipped by a tanned Don Freschi this week played Team Les Lepine. Skip Satch had a soft hit double tap for three in the 1st, but threw a little extra weight that didn’t curl, and had to settle for a single. Skip Lepine made a difficult draw for two thru a tight port in the 2nd, then stole a single in the 3rd when Skip Freschi’s last rock take-out for three fell back and whiffed.
Down 3-1, two nice draws around cover on the straight curling side of the ice by third Faunto led to a deuce in the 4th to tie it. Then Team van Yzerloo’s front end made some nice draws around cover early, then guarded well for steals in the 5th and 6th ends, on their way to a 7-3 win.
Team Nando Salviulo battled Team Jill Winters in a close fought match. Skip Salviulo attempted a delicate come around tap that ticked a guard, giving up a steal of two in the 1st, then ticked another guard in the 2nd for a Winters steal of one. Team Salviulo stole a single in the 4th to tie the game at 3-3 after Skip Winters last rock draw came up short. Team Winters restored their lead with a pair of nice draws by Skip Jill for two in the 5th, then forced Team Salviulo to take one in the 6th. Team Salviulo returned the favour, forcing Team Winters to take one in the 7th, and had a chance to tie in the 8th with an attempted raise take-out for two that ticked the shot stone, but didn’t move it far enough, resulting in a Winters steal of one and an exciting 7-4 win.
Team Ken Coles started strong against Team Marcus Partridge, but ran into some trouble in the middle ends. Team Coles stole two in the 1st when Skip Partridge’s last rock take-out breezed by, followed by a steal of one in the 2nd. Team Partridge got that all back in the 3rd with a field goal, then stole a deuce in the 4th when Skip Coles last rock ticked a guard.
Trailing 5-3, Skip Coles gave up another steal of two in the 5th after his attempted difficult double raise take-out just missed. Team Coles were forced to draw for one in the 6th, and were looking to steal a couple in the 7th before Skip Marcus calmly drew to the edge of the button. Team Partridge then ran their opposition out of rocks in the 8th to preserve the 8-4 win.
The last match of the night saw Team Russ Beauchamp take on Team Ken Fines. Team Fines chose to blank the 1st, then put up a field goal in the 2nd with some well placed draws around corner guards. Facing four in the 3rd, Skip Beauchamp attempted hit n roll didn’t roll far enough, cutting Team Fines down to a steal of two.
Team Fines kept a tidal wave of pressure on Team Beauchamp, forcing Skip Russ into difficult shots, and while he managed to keep eliminating some of the Fines stones, he couldn’t quite get to the shot rock, giving up steals in the 4th, 5th and 6th ends before waving the white flag in a 10-0 Team Fines drubbing.
A huge thank-you to Aron Burke and Kootenay Savings Credit Union for once again being our title sponsor. Also to Ice Maker Murray Walsh and his crew, and all the volunteer bartenders throughout the season. This League would also not be possible without the commitment of all the out of town teams travelling to play in Trail every Thursday.