STEEL RESOLVE RETAINS LADIES KNOCKOUT

Congratulations to Fiona Steel’s Nairn Ladies rink who  have retained the trophy they won in 2020. COVID prevented their defence last year, but they made up for it by defeating Sandra McIver’s Moray Firth Ladies 5-3 in a game that was possibly more convincing than the score may suggest. The Moray girls opened the contest with a single shot in the opening end, but a swift and ultimately conclusive response  from their Nairn opponents gave the Nairn team a 5-1 advantage after 5 ends. Sandra could only pick up2 single shots at the last 2 ends when handshakes were exchanged.
In Moray Province  West League  division 1, Mark Fraser consolidated his lead atop the table with an 8-3 win over Larry Kerr, whilst title challenger Callum Greenwood put Ali Asher to the sword. 3 counts of 3 over the last 4 ends gave the Ardclach rink their big win.
In the East,meantime, Division 3 hotshot Charlie Watt jnr, finally had a stick thrown in his spokes as Elgin’s Helen Downey ended the Forres maestro’s incredible  several season‘s game winning run. Charlie may have been sitting pretty at 6-2 up going into the last end, but Helen fairly managed to ruffle his feathers with a count of 4 to take a share of the points. Bob Stewart was in uncompromising mood as he won every end in a big win against the inexperienced Moray Wheels rink. Gordie Kennedy skipped the family rink to a straightforward win over Linda Hardie, racing to a 7-0 lead before the Forres four had opened their account and in the battle of the Moray Juniors Georgia Clarke claimed the spoils. A solid mid game performance with 4 consecutive end wins was a bit too much for Owen Watson and co.
In Division 2 it was Abby Duncan who advanced his title credentials with a very good win over clubmate and former rink mate Alan Durno. The Gordon Castle gunslinger who  many years ago learnt his  tactical nous as Durno’s third player put one over on his old boss. A 4 at the third end and an ability to only concede single shots were the decisive factors.
The whole Province looks forward to next week’s Winter Olympics as both British rinks must be in with a very good chance of standing on the medal podium.