The first night of action for the Original 16 Cash League after the holiday break turned out to be filled with close games, as all five matches at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre on Wednesday were decided by three points or less.
The end result was largely the same, though, with the top three teams all picking up victories.
BTN Chartered Accountants (Penny Barker, 12-1) found themselves in a bit of a tussle with Wade Gray (5-8) despite putting up a pair of big ends. After Gray picked up a pair to open things, Barker got right back on track with three in the third and then took another three in the fourth to lead 6-2, A steal in the fifth made it look like things were going to be a runaway, but Gray got one back in the sixth and stole another in the seventh before running out of rocks in the final end and falling 7-5.
Fountain Tire (Barry Silk, 10-3) needed a mid-game rally to hold off RK Sunview Farms (Dayne Heisler, 1-12) and take a 5-3 win. The two teams were tied 1-1 through three ends, but Silk scored a pair in the fourth and stole singles the next two frames to lead 5-1. Heisler got his deuce in the seventh to make things interesting, but wouldn’t be able to complete the comeback.
A fast start proved to be the difference for KMS Construction (Ben Gamble, 10-3) in their match-up with Ryder Helmeczi (4-8). A three-spot in the first end set the tone, and after the two teams exchanged singles the next three ends, a deuce in the fifth gave Gamble a 6-2 lead. Keeping with the theme on the night, Helmeczi got back into the hunt with single points in the sixth and seventh before Gamble wrapped things up with one in the eighth for the 7-4 win.
The closest game of the night was between EMJ Construction (Joe Gunnis, 5-8) and Leeville Construction (Curtis Woloschuk, 4-8). Things were close through the first four ends as the teams put up a string of singles to sit tied 2-2. Gunnis looked to take control with a pair in the fifth and steal in the sixth for a 5-2 lead, but Woloschuk got all that back and then some with four-spot in the seventh. Gunnis put the hammer to good use, though, a scored two in the eighth for the 7-6 win win.
Young and Young Automotive (Stan Barnsley, 6-7) and John’s Music (Ryan Wenarchuk, 7-6) saw Barnsley rally in the final two ends for a 6-4 victory. Wenarchuk took a 2-1 lead out of the fourth end, but the teams would exchange deuces the next three frames, giving Barnsley a 5-4 lead coming home. Wenarchuk wouldn’t be able to get the point to tie, and Barnsley had his narrow win.
Original 16 Cash League action continues at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre every Wednesday night.
