Moray Province Curling title races coming close to a conclusion
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Divisional titles are all but in the bag in Moray Province League’s West section.
Division 1 defending champions Ardclach’s Ally Fraser is a whopping seven points ahead of the opposition and although three of the chasing pack have games in hand, it would be folly to bet against Fraser and co snaring yet another League title.
It was three ends apiece in Fraser’s game against Mike McInnes, a count of three at the penultimate end the decisive factor in an Ardclach victory.
Clubmate Ruaridh Greenwood kept his mathematical chance alive with an 8-4 win. An opening score of five shots fairly deflated opponent Larry Kerr’s chances and although the Nairn men scored at three of the six ends played, the early 5-0 deficit proved to be too difficult a recovery.
Division 2 is proving to be a dawdle for Jamie Cattell who maintained his unblemished league record with another win, this one against Ernie Nicholson.
Multiple counts,including a five at the fourth end and an opening count of four were a stark pointer of experience over enthusiasm in Cattell’s 16-2 win.
Gus Forbes is hanging on to Cattell’s division coat tails after a solid 9-2 defeat of Fiona Steel’s Nairn Ladies. A second end five followed by three more steals were bookended by solitary Steel singles.
Things are considerably more competitive in the East where Andy Cameron’s 9-4 win over title challenging Charlie Watt has eased the Aberlour rink to the top of Division 1. Cameron however, has played a couple of games more than his second and third place opponents.
Fresh from his sojourn to last week’s Scottish Championships, the Aberlour man was always in control and scored at five of the eight ends played in his convincing win.
Fochabers’ Wilson Burnett came out on top in the relegation battle, coming back from 6-2 behind against Mike McDonald to score at all of the last five ends in his 8-6 victory.
The Division 2 battle is just as tight, with contenders Abby Duncan and Owen Watson in action against each other and it was the veteran Duncan who came out on top.
Tied at 5-5 after five ends, Duncan’s guile was enough to send the youngsters home to think again as he eased to victory with a three-shot steal at the last end.
Angus Gunn skipped the Sunninghill rink to a win over Alan Douglas and kept the hotel team well in the title hunt. Another of the week’s five-shot counts, this time at end three gave the Ross outfit a 7-1 lead and despite a spirited Darnaway comeback, Ross and co ran out 11-5 victors.
Bob Stewart and Alan Durno are part of the Division’s support cast this season and a 7-7 peel kept Durno’s head above relegation water whilst his Elgin opponents’ hopes are just about holed below the waterline.
Results, Moray Province League
East Division 1
W. Burnett (Fochabers) 8 M. McDonald (Forres) 6
A. Cameron (Aberlour) 9 C. Watt jnr (Forres) 4
East Division 2
O. Watson (Moray Juniors) 5 A. Duncan (Fochabers) 9
A. Douglas (Darnaway) 5 D. Ross (Sunninghill) 11
R. Stewart (Elgin) 7 A. Durno (Fochabers) 7
West Division 1
L. Kerr (Nairn) 4 R. Greenwood (Ardclach) 8
A. Fraser (Ardclach) 6 M. McInnes (Nairn) 4
West Division 2
I. Thomson (Dalcross) 2 R. Marwick (Nairn) 10
J. Cattell (Nairn)16 E. Nicholson (Darnaway) 2
F. Steel (Nairn Ladies) 2 A. Forbes (Nairn) 9
