Category: Competitions

Promotion, relegation, pride, or nothing to play for, there was something of everything in tonight’s final round.

D Reid 6 – 3 S Smith

With big Dougie busy in Forfar qualifying for the Scottish Seniors, Mark Guthrie led the team to their 3rd win. The nail in Stuart Smith’s promotion hopes was the loss of 3 in the sixth to trail by 4. Managing a single in the seventh, Stuart was run out of stones in the last and finishes in 5th place. While already relegated, the win moves Dougie’s team up to 9th place overall.

T Wilson 3 – 11 J Craig

With relegation assured for the loser, Tommy started well with a 2, only for President Jim Kirkwood to reply with a 3 at the second. Jim then stole singles in the third and fourth, before Tommy scored in the sixth. In the eighth, with three stones to play, Jim lay two stones frozen on the T and a third in line, back 12. Tommy’s take-out attempt sailed straight past leaving Jim to guard with a fourth counter, top 12. In trying to draw the button with his last, Tommy’s shot was through the back of the house. The win moves John Craig’s rink up to 7th, while Tommy slipped to 10th.

J Young 2 – 11 H Reid

In the big top v bottom clash, it was going to be a hard job for Jim Young to do a “Southampton” against the unbeaten Hugh Reid. Big ends for Hugh in the second, fourth and fifth sealed Jim’s rinks fate and they finished in last place. For Hugh it confirmed his achievement of being unbeaten in the Cuthbertson league for two seasons running.

T Reid 16 – 2 L Montgomerie

This match between Lorna “I’m safe” Montgomerie and Tom “I need a good win” Reid, was only going to end one way. The first six ends had a familiar pattern with Tom taking 2, stealing 4, give 1, repeat. A four to Tom in the seventh moves him to 4th overall and rounded off a miserable league campaign for Lorna who finished 8th. Despite avoiding relegation, Lorna wants to return to playing at 3rd next year.

P Barrett 2 – 6 D Mundell

Peter Barrett’s slim hope of grabbing the final promotion spot were soon dashed by David Mundell. Taking a 2 in the first and followed by three steals, David was taking on and making the big shots that mattered. Peter got on the scoresheet with singles in the fifth and sixth. Finishing after the seventh, David took the final promotion slot while Peter finished 6th.

Next up

Howie League Match Day 1 – January 6th 2019 @ 17:30 – Rinks 1 – 10.

In three of tonights four games, it really was a case of “a game of two halves.”

H Reid 8 – 6 T Wilson

It took until the last stone in the ninth end for Hugh Reid to get the fat lady singing, but singing she is. Having won the first four ends, everything was going to plan with Hugh beating Tommy Wilson 6-1 after six ends. The seventh started with some short guards which Tommy got around to put the pressure on. Unable to clear the front, it only got worse for Hugh as Tommy took a four. Tommy then stole a single in the eighth to tie the game 6-6. In the ninth, again a big head built up with Tommy lying 2, leaving Hugh to pick his way through the guards. Hugh’s final shot came down with enough weight to shift both of Tommy’s stones to win by 2. Only bottom of the table Jim Young can now prevent Hugh Reid going unbeaten for the second season running.

T Reid 8 – 10 D Mundell

With David Mundell scoring 3 in the 2nd, then stealing 2’s in the 3rd, 4th and 5th ends, this game looked destined for an early end. Restricted to a single in the 6th, Tom Reid trailed 9-2, but then, like the game next door, it all changed. In the seventh, Tom stole a 4 to put the brakes on Dave’s runaway train but it was all a bit too late. Despite another 2 in the ninth, Dave took the advantage in the race for the 3rd promotion place.

P Barrett 9 – 6 J Craig

Still not safe from relegation, vice-president John Craig handed responsibility to president Jim Kirkwood to try and get a much needed win. All was going well and after winning four of the first five ends, Jim was leading Peter Barrett 6-2. On tricky ice, Peter’s young rink were struggling to match the shots of Jim’s more mature rink. Another 4 was to change the game, only this time Peter got it in the 6th end to tie the game. Getting two early stones round the guards was the key to Peter stealing 2 in the seventh. The eighth followed a similar pattern with Jim trying to clear guards to no avail.

M Noble 6 – 10 S Smith

Playing his last game, Malcolm Noble needed a win against Stuart Smith to keep the pressure on Hugh Reid. Malcolm opened with a 3, which Stuart countered with a 2, then stole a single. After six ends the rinks were tied 6-6 with the turning point again coming in the seventh. This time it was Stuart who took a 3 and followed it with a single steal to move up to fourth place. Despite the loss, Malcolm’s rink have secured second place in the league behind Hugh Reid.

What’s Next

With Hugh Reid and Malcolm Noble securing first and second, there are four rinks chasing the final promotion slot. David Mundell’s win over Tom Reid puts him in pole position, but with an inferior shots difference, must beat Peter Barrett. If Mundell falters, Stuart Smith would move into third with a win over already relegated Douglas Reid. If Smith loses, then Peter Barrett or Tom Reid could claim the final spot. With Barrett having a two shot advantage over Reid, it could be an interesting contest.

At the bottom of the table, with John Craig playing Tommy Wilson, Jim Young and Douglas Reid are already relegated barring exceptional results. A peeled game between Craig and Wilson would relegate Craig. It would also leave Reid needing a 12 shot win over Stuart Smith to escape and relegate Wilson as well. A more likely result will be that the loser of the Craig – Wilson game is relegated.

After tonights games, the fat lady is not quite singing, but she may be next week.

M Noble 10 – L Montgomerie 3

Malcolm Noble kept up his title hopes with a convincing whitewashing of Lorna Montgomerie’s team. Sitting out the final night, Noble’s rink is at least assured of promotion and must win his last game to keep the title race open. Also with only one game left, Lorna still has it in her own hands to avoid relegation.

H Reid 6 – 4 S Smith

With his eighth straight win, Hugh Reid has all but sown up the league title with two games to spare. 2 points and 5 shots clear with a game in hand, this should be a formality for the untouchables. Already safe from relegation, Stuart Smith could still steal the last promotion slot if other results go his way.

D Reid v T Wilson

Fortunately for Tommy Wilson, he decided to take a night off in London and leave it to third Simon Grant, to secure the rinks second win. Arriving back fresh from a weekend playing in the Scottish Seniors qualifiers, Douglas Reid put up a good fight. Grant thought he had won with a single in the eighth before he realised the bell had not gone. With lots of stones in play in the ninth, an angled raise by Grant with his last shot left Reid with a difficult double take-out to win. With the final shot wrecking on the guards, Wilson steps back out of the relegation zone, leaving Reid looking for favours next week.

J Young 3 – 10 P Barrett

Contrary to the final scoreline, this was a closely fought contest with Peter Barrett’s rink often having to clear a way in. A sixth defeat in a row leaves Jim Young’s rink firmly at the foot of the table. Sitting out match day 12, they could be relegated before their last game against the untouchable Hugh Reid. Safe from relegation, Barrett still has an outside chance of promotion.

What’s Next

Hugh Reid will secure the title by taking a point from Tommy Wilson or, if Malcolm Noble fails to beat Stuart Smith. With Tom Reid and David Mundell playing each other, only one can catch Noble for 2nd. Both Smith and Barrett still have a chance of getting the final promotion spot if results go their way.

Bottom two, Jim Young and Douglas Reid sit out match day 12 as does seventh placed Lorna Montgomerie. They will all be hoping that both John Craig and Tommy Wilson lose their games against Barrett and Hugh Reid.

 

With the league leaders sitting out this round, it was a chance for some to try and catch up.

T Reid 4 – 10 J Craig

A 5 in the first end for bottom placed John Craig, shook the foundations of Tam Reid’s promotion chase. In response, with their heads down,Reid’s team were only able to take four singles and their title hopes are all but over.  With other results going their way, Craig’s rink climb out of the relegation places with only two games to play.

M Noble 10 – 6 T Wilson

In a real game of two halves, Malcolm Noble kept his title hopes alive with a backs to the wall comeback against Tommy Wilson. Intent on climbing out of the relegation zone, Wilson was 5-0 up after 3 ends, then  his game fell apart. Wilson managed only one more shot as Noble replied with two doubles and two trebles.

J Young 8 – 12 L Montgomerie

It was a high scoring game in the Battle of the Bonnets, where both teams are fighting to avoid the drop. Although winning five ends, Young failed to contain his opponent and drops into the relegation zone. When Montgomerie scored, she scored big with a 3, a 4 and a 5 to take the points and move up to 6th.

D Reid 4 – 5 D Mundell

This was a really tight game with 9 ends, all won by a single shot. However, it was not as simple as that, with both teams winning one and stealing the next from the second end onwards. The win puts Mundell in with a shout of stealing a promotion place, but keeps Reid in the bottom two.

 

With only four games left for most teams in the Cuthbertson League, it is starting to get interesting. With only 3 points between fifth and last place, beating the opponent is becoming critical to avoid relegation. At the top, Hugh Reid is unbeaten, with three or four other teams looking to challenge for the title.

M Noble 3 – 7 D Mundell

Having taken a night off and lost heavily last week, fifth placed David Mundell was up against second placed Malcolm Noble. A single to Noble in the first was met with Mundell taking ends two through five to lead 7-1. Noble could only manage a further two singles to lose ground at the top of the table, while Mundell edged closer to safety.

P Barrett 8 – 5 L Montgomerie

Sixth placed Lorna Montgomerie was up against seventh placed Peter Barrett on sheet B. Being a man down was not the start Montgomerie wanted, but fortunately, Simon Grant agreed to step in. A 3 for Montgomerie in the first end was equalled by Barrett in the second. A poor last stone by Barrett in the seventh left Montgomerie a shot to tie the game. But an equally poor shot by Montgomerie gave up a single steal for Barrett to lead 8 – 4. In the eighth, Barrett loaded the front of the house restricting Montgomerie to a tap up for a single with her last shot.

H Reid 9 – 6 J Craig

For a top against bottom clash, the game between Hugh Reid and John Craig was very close throughout. With the lead changing regularly throughout the game, for both teams this was a case of win one steal one. A 2 to Craig in the seventh left Reid 1 down with hammer in the last. Determined not to continue the pattern, Reid took a 4 to win 9 – 6 and remain unbeaten.

T Reid 12 – 6 S Smith

Third placed Stuart Smith was up against fourth placed Tom Reid on sheet D. A big 5 in the fourth was the highlight of the night for Smith. Unfortunately, it simply brought the game level at 5 each. After swapping singles in the next two ends, Reid showed his masters touch taking 3’s in the last two ends to win 12 – 6. In doing so, Reid stepped back over Smith into the promotion places.

The latest league table can be found by clicking the League button on the Home page.

Match day 8 of the Wm. Cuthbertson Cup saw some big scores right across the board.

Up first was Douglas Reid against Lorna Montgomerie. With five and a half games under his belt in the last three days, big Dougie obviously had his eye in. Twice scoring 4 with the hammer and twice stealing 2, this game ended 12-4 to team Dougie Reid.

Tommy Wilson clearly learnt from last weeks game, scoring more than a single with hammer and restricting the opposition to singles. In his game against Jim Young, Tommy’s rink got on the scoreboard in the 3rd end with a fist full of 5, followed by 2’s in the fifth and seventh ends. A single steal in the eighth sealed a 10-4 win for Team Tommy.

After last week’s backs to the wall comeback, Stuart Smith must have been licking his lips when opposition skip David Mundell and lead Andrew Muir were absent from this game. Taking a 6 at the first end, 3’s in the fourth, sixth and seventh ends, Stuart easily won 15-3.

An upset looked on the cards two ends into the game between John Craig and Malcolm Noble. Leading 4-0, the presidential duo were unable to keep it tight and were 6-4 down after four ends. A further 5 shots were conceded in the sixth allowing Noble to secure an 11-6 win to close the gap at the top of the league.

Results:

D Reid 12-4 L Montgomerie

J Young 4-10 T Wilson

S Smith 15- 3 D Mundell

M Noble 11-6 J Craig

The midway point of the Cuthbertson league saw 10 of the 11 teams in action.

First up on sheet B was Jim Young against Tom Reid where the final result does not reflect the whole game. After 5 ends the teams were tied on 6 shots each. Tom opened up a 2 shot lead after the 8th end and chasing the game in the 9th, Jim managed to set Tom up for a steal of 5 to win the game.

On sheet C, it was looking grim for Stuart Smith as he found himself trailing John Craig by 7 shots to 2 after 6 ends, having been limited to singles in the first and fifth ends. A 3 in the 7th set up a tense final end and with some excellent draws from both teams, there were lots of stones in play towards the back of the house with Gouky lying 2. With the final stone, John needed to draw the 4 foot to give up a steal of 1 but win the game, however, despite frantic sweeping the stone pulled up 2 foot short to give Gouky a steal of 2 to peel the game.

A fast start by Peter Barrett on sheet D saw him lead Douglas Reid by 7 after 3 ends. Big Dougie hit back with a 4 but would lose another 6 shots before taking a single in the 8th end to concede the game 13-5.

Out on the back sheets, David Mundell showed Tommy Wilson the benefit of scoring 2’s with the hammer and restricting your opponents to singles. A couple of steals by Davy extended his advantage to win 8-3.

*An appeal was raised after the results were published highlighting an error recording the last end where Tommy scored 3 shots. This was erroneously entered into the Total column and therefore not added to the previous 2 that Tommy had amassed during the game. After checking that this was correct with David Mundell, it was agreed to correct the result, however, this highlights the need for skips to check their scores properly when signing the cards.

Hugh Reid continued his ruthless drive at the top of the table, taking advantage of Lorna Montgomerie being without her talisman 3rd, Alan Mitchell. A very one sided game started with Hugh taking 2’s at the first 3 ends and stealing two further singles before Lorna got on the scoresheet. A single in the seventh gave Hugh a comfortable win and moved his rink 4 points clear at the top of the table.

Results:

J Young 7 – 14 T Reid

S Smith 7 – 7 J Craig

D Reid 5 – 13 P Barrett

T Wilson 5* – 8 D Mundell

H Reid 9 – 1 L Montgomerie

With Tom Smith having withdrawn from the league, Lorna Montgomerie once again put up a stirling performance against Stuart Smith. In a tight match, all square going into the last end, it came down to the last two stones to decide the winner. With his last stone, Stuart came through a port with weight to remove what looked to be a well guarded winning stone and lie two shots. In reply, with the last stone, Lorna drew through the same port but ended up inches short to hand Gouky the win 6-5

Up against Tom Reid, it was hard going for Peter Barrett, with Iain Dunlop clearing out whenever a big end was building. It was too early to finish after 7 ends, despite being 9-3 down, and a foul by the sweepers on Tom’s last stone in the 8th led to Barrett drawing for 3 and taking the game to a 9th end. With Barrett lying two, Reid drew for second shot round the guards, Barrett’s last was a little heavy leaving Reid to tap and roll in for shot and a 10-6 win.

It was top against second on sheet E where Hugh Reid took on Malcolm Noble. A 2 in the 2nd for Reid gave him the early advantage which was pegged back by Noble in the 5th with a 2 of his own. All square at 4-4 after 6, steals at the 7th and 8th kept up Hugh Reid’s unbeaten run and moves him 2 points clear at the top, winning 6-4

Andy Steel, playing skip in place of the absent Jim Young, was up against Douglas Reid on sheet F with Dougie looking to get some points on the board. Despite a 2 at the first end for Steel, it was steals at the 3rd, 6th and 7th ends that won the game for Reid who won 7-4

Results:

Stuart Smith 6-5 Lorna Montgomerie

Tom Reid 10-6 Peter Barrett

Malcom Noble 4-6 Hugh Reid

Jim Young 4-7 Douglas Reid