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Shorthanded teams set the stage for Super League shellackings

It was with understandable and unavoidable absences that left some teams shorthanded in the Kootenay Savings Super League.

It was with understandable and unavoidable absences that left some teams shorthanded in the Kootenay Savings Super League, and one game - the Myron Nichol vs Desiree Borsato match - postponed.

With Skip Ken Fines and third Dave Kelly still on holidays, Maglio Ladies kept a relentless pressure on Team Fines throughout the game, forcing interim skip Craig Fines to make clutch draws to the button for singles in the third and fifth ends.

Skip Heather Nichol threw up perfect guards in the seventh and eighth to block any Fines entry to the four foot, leading to consecutive steals of three on their way to a 10-2 win.

Meanwhile, Team Albo put their undefeated record on the line against Deane Horning’s rink, with both teams missing some of their top guns. Horning and Don Freschi were in Vernon curling for T.J. Perepolkin at the Prestige Classic cash ‘Spiel, losing in the quarterfinal to eventual finalist Brady Clark from the U.S., while Albo’s brother and third was away hunting.

Filling in for Horning was former area residents, skip James Mackenzie and lead Sue Hicks. Albo took one in the first and was looking to steal in the second before Mackenzie made a perfect come around tap for three.

Albo was missing his trusty third, giving up steals in the third, fourth and fifth, but appeared to get back in the game with a fantastic double take-out for three in the sixth.

Momentum was shifting, with Team Albo laying three virtually buried when James came to throw his last rock in the seventh, but he dashed any hopes of an Albo comeback with a laser-like takeout through the tiniest port to count one. After another steal in the eighth, Albo had enough, conceding a 10-4 Horning win.

Team Ferguson got in the win column with an 11-1 demolition of Russ Beauchamp’s foursome. Beauchamp was again unable to attend, and spare skip Tom Hall did not have the magic from the week before. Skip Ron Ferguson set the tone early, making a cross-ice double take-out for two in the first, then throwing perfect guards in the second, third, and fourth for consecutive steals of two and a commanding 8-0 lead. Hall drew for one in the fifth to get on the board, before Ferguson stormed back with three in the sixth forcing Beauchamp to shake hands.

Kootenay Savings Super League goes every Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Trail Curling Club.