Fairfield Marriott Challenge - Zone 7 - A Side: Martin vs Braden (Varsity)

Somehow, Team Ritchie and Elgie manages to get byes, AGAIN. Meanwhile we drew the Varsity Guys in the first game.

End 1: Iggy makes a nice double to clear the rings, but icky flashes a hit, leaving Braden a free draw for two.

End 2: Team Martin responds with a deuce as icky's final open draw lands on the button.

End 3: We steal one to go up 3-2.

End 4: We were in some trouble with two Varsity counters and a ton of guards. Icky attempts to draw to the left edge of the button (shot rock had the right edge of the button) to sit second shot by papering the guards. Great throw and excellent sweeping gets us there. After a missed attempt at a raise by Braden that moved our rock to shot, icky just had to guard to prevent the raise again. Unfortunately, we undersweep the rock by an inch, resulting in a hog. Braden makes no mistake and makes the short raise for 2.

End 5: We were sitting good until icky misses a hit due to an underthrown rock that overcurled. After Braden guards, we attempt a runback that missed. They now lead 5-3.

End 6: Another unfortunate sweeping error. Icky's last was a draw against two. Needing the 4 foot, he throws it well but the sweepers leave it an inch short. They lead by 3. This was the end that icky realized these were not 10 end games.

End 7: A good end leads to a deuce.

End 8: Icky's last was a draw behind our guard that was completely open. Braden's hit just grazes our rock. Without moving it out, we steal one to tie.

Extra End: Good guarding and missed peels gave us a chance, but icky's final draw attempt is a bit wide, leaving Braden a draw for the win. He must makes it by the guard and just has enough weight.

Endnotes: We get knocked into the B side of this double-knockout tournament. Now we need to win 5 straight to qualify.

Fairfield Marriott Challenge - Zone 7 - B Side: Martin vs Pinsley

We played against some guys who really couldn't curl. The first offered a chance for a huge pile (4-6), but the opposition's final draw to the pocket is perfect, cutting us down to 2 when icky misses his draw for 3. We never look back from there, including the following "blast it out" shot on two frozen rocks in the 6th that led to a draw for 3 and a concession of the game from the other team.