The first round of the three-week playoffs in the Trail Super League, sponsored by Kootenay Savings Credit Union, started this past week with the four top seesaw all advancing.
Top seed Team Myron Nichol played a complete game against Team Sandra Meger. Skip Nichol made a nice hit n stick for a deuce in the 1st, then forced Team Meger to a single in the 2nd. Skip Sandra made a perfect chap n lie behind cover with her last in the 3rd that Skip Nichol couldn't outdraw, for a Team Meger steal of one.
Facing four with her last in the 4th, Skip Meger attempted a cross ice hit n roll, that went a smidge too far, peeking out the other side, allowing Skip Nichol a delicate hack weight tap for a huge four. It was a crowded 4 foot in the 5th after Skip Myron made a perfect freeze on the button leading to a steal of one.
Skip Meger had an open draw for three in the 6th, that overcurled, nicking a guard and settling for a deuce. Team Nichol put the game to bed with a field goal in the 7th, then ran the opposition out of rocks in the 8th, preserving the 10-4 win.
With regular season second place finisher Team Don Freschi not available for the playoffs, Team Jill Winters assumed the 2nd seed, and got all she could handle against Team Nando Salviulo.
Team Salviulo started strong putting up a 3spot in the first, then tacking on a steal of two in the 2nd. Skip Winters had to settle for a single in the 3rd after coming up short on her last rock draw attempt for two.
Skip Nando made a perfect hit n roll behind cover with his first in the 4th, but couldn't negotiate a draw path for the second point with his last. Momentum switched in the 5th after Team Salviulo grazed a few guards early in the end, then Skip Nandos last rock hit rolled out, allowing Skip Winters a free draw for four. Team Winters managed a steal of one behind a wall of granite in the 6th, tying the game at 6 all.
Skip Salviulo's last rock blank attempt stuck around for a single in the 7th, setting the stage for Team Winters to score a deuce in 8 for an exciting come from behind 8-7 Team Winters win.
Fourth seed Team Ken Fines put lots of rocks in play and kept the pressure on Team Ken Coles all game.
Team Fines started with a field goal in the 1st, then forced Skip Coles into a delicate raise to the button for one in the 2nd. With two Team Fines stones buried, Skip Coles tried an angle raise takeout with his last rock in the 3rd that just missed, allowing Skip Fines to make a short raise to the 8foot for another 3spot in the 3rd.
Team Coles were held to a single in the 4th, then it was more from Team Fines in the 5th, as they put up their third field goal of the night, before salting the game away with a steal of two in the 6th, for the handshaking 11-2 Team Fines win.
The last game of the night saw 3rd seed Team Bartlett Excavating, Skipped by Deane Horning, take on Team Marcus Partridge, Skipped by Trevor Miller this week.
After Skip Hornings last rock hit n roll attempt went too far, Skip Miller made his own hit n roll for three in the 1st. The 2nd end saw a huge turning point in the game when Skip Millers last rock hit n stay attempt to lay two, jammed on his own, giving Skip Horning the opportunity for an open hit n stay for a huge five.
Facing a well guarded four foot, Skip Miller tried a wide angle hit n roll, that unfortunately stayed straight for an agonizing flash, and a steal of four for Team Bartlett in the 3rd. Team Partridge manufactured their deuce in the 4th, then held Team Bartlett to a single in the 5th.
Every rock was in play in the 6th, as Skip Horning managed a delicate angle raise to the button with his last that Skip Miller couldn't duplicate, conceding to the 11-5 Team Bartlett victory after the steal of one.
The Trail Super League playoffs continue for the next two weeks at the Trail Curling Club.
Spectators are welcome.
