Team Fines took on Team Nichol in one of three intriguing match ups this past week in the Kootenay Savings Super League at the Trail Curling Arena.
After a first end blank, the teams traded singles, then deuces to be all tied at three after five ends. Skip Ken Fines made an open hit and stick for two in the sixth, then took control of the game in the seventh, when skip Myron Nichol’s last rock came short for a Fines steal of three. Team Nichol started to take chances to garner a big end, but another steal of one for Fines sealed the game, and a 9-3 Fines win.
Team Castlegar Hyundai and Team Umpherville had a similar close game early before Hyundai broke it open with a big score. Hyundai, with third Rob Norbert skipping this week, scored in the first, second and fourth ends, while Skip Justin Umpherville kept his team close with beautiful come around taps for two in the third and fifth ends for a 5-4 Hyundai lead.
Team Hyundai kept relentless pressure on the Junior Men’s squad, as Norbert drew for two in the sixth, stole a single in the seventh, then forced the Junior Men’s to shake hands with a huge steal of six in the eighth for a 14-4 drubbing.
First place was on the line, as Team Ferguson battled Team Horning. Horning had won the first match-up, but this was Team Ferguson’s night.
They stormed out of the gate with two in the first, followed by third Brian Lemoel’s perfect hit and roll to set up a three ender and a 5-1 lead after four.
Horning slowly started to claw his way back with deuces in the fifth and seventh ends, plus a steal of one in the eighth to tie the game at six. Looking to steal again in the ninth, the end turned dramatically after Horning’s front end broomed his rock, giving way to an open Ferguson hit for three.
Team Ferguson bent but didn’t break, as Horning couldn’t come up with the three to tie, and could only shake his head at what could have been, after Team Ferguson made an astounding nine double take-outs in the game to win 9-7.