SSS League Update - Rounds 5 and 6
Glasgow Universities curlers took to Perth for the third time this season for rounds 5 and 6 of the Scottish Universities' Curling League, with Glasgow I looking to retain their undefeated status at the top of the league.
In the morning session, Glasgow I (Alasdair Schreiber (Skip), Jim Whittle (VS), Peter Dagen and Andrew McCluskey) were up against a strong Strathclyde 2 rink, also undefeated going into the fifth round of games and hoping to retain that record. The game was kept close for the first five ends, with Glasgow stealing one in the first and Strathclyde following their forced single in the second with a steal of their own in the third end. The teams traded singles in ends four and five leaving the scoreline at 3-2 in Strathclyde's favoure going into the sixth end.
The sixth end proved crucial with Glasgow skip, Schreiber, making a skinny double takeout with his last to count three and take the score to 5-3, now in Glasgow's favour. In the seventh end a miss from Strathclyde skip Stuart Marshall with his final stone gave Glasgow a steal of two to lead by 7-3 going into the last end. A well executed final end forced Strathclyde into taking a single, finishing things up at 7-4. Glasgow I retained their undefeated record, winning against their closest rivals for the title.
Glasgow II (Andrew McGowan (Skip), Fraser Murray (VS), Heather Thorburn, Nicola Ridall) opened up their day with a game against Strathclyde 1. They struggled early on to get a feel for the ice and lost a couple of big ends at the start. They managed to squeeze out a single in the sixth end, but after losing one in the seventh end the score sat at 12-1 to Strathclyde and Glasgow II chose to concede the game at that point.
The afternoon session saw Glasgow II taking on Aberdeen 2. Some better play kept the game close all the way through with Glasgow II taking three ends out of the seven played. In the second end a missed shot from Glasgow gave Aberdeen the chance for three shots, which they got. However some good play kept Glasgow II in the game and unfortunately a shot to sit three in the fifth end was missed. However the game was kept very close and is Glasgow II's best league result this season. There were indeed many positives to be taken from their performance.
Meanwhile Glasgow I met Robert Gordon University in their afternoon game. A well played first end from Glasgow earned them a steal of one and, following RGU blanking the second end, Glasgow stole another single to take a 2-0 lead after three ends. In the fourth end RGU were forced to take the single point and gave Glasgow the hammer going into the fifth. Glasgow used the hammer well and scored the first deuce of the game to take a 4-1 lead.
A number of mistakes from the RGU side gave Glasgow a steal of a single point in the sixth and another cluster of mistakes in the seventh gave Glasgow a big steal of two more to make the score 7-1 after seven ends. After the seventh end the RGU skip conceded the match and gave Glasgow I their sixth win in the SSS league, leaving them undefeated at the top of the table.
The sixth and final session will take place on Wednesday 11 March at 12.45 with Glasgow I playing in a Glasgow grudge match against Strathclyde 1. Glasgow II will meet Aberdeen 1 in their final game.
With Glasgow I undefeated, the only team with a chance of catching them is RGU, on only one defeat, both Strathclyde teams sit just below Glasgow I and RGU on two losses. It will be all to play for on the 11th with Glasgow I hoping for a clean-sweep and retaining of their title from last year.
