MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Original 16 Cash League season is off to a good start for two-time defending champion Ben Gamble.
Gamble and his KMS Construction rink used a big second end to pace themselves to a 10-6 victory over Young and Young Automotive (Stan Barnsley) on the opening night of competition at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre.
After falling behind 1-0 in the first end, Gamble promptly put up a five-spot the next frame to take control of the contest. Barnsley got three back in the fourth, but Gamble extended his lead to 9-4 through six ends before going on to the comfortable win.
Leevile Construction (Dustin Woloschuk) picked up a big win with a 9-1 victory over perennial championship contender BTN Chartered Accountants (Penny Barker). Woloschuk picked up three in the first end and built a 6-1 lead through four before adding three more in the fifth and sixth to bring the game to an early end.
Fountain Tire (Barry Silk) found himself in a close battle with EMJ Marketing (Joe Gunnis), but a late-game surge would see him go on to an 8-4 victory. Gunnis trailed 3-1 through three ends but tied the game in the fourth and took his first lead with a single point in sixth. Silk took over from there, though, scoring three in the seventh to go up 6-4 and then stealing two in the eighth for the four-point win.
The other game on opening night saw Wade Gray score points over the final three ends to take a 7-3 win over R.K. Sunview Farms (Dayne Heisler). Gray got off to a good start with three in the first, but Heisler put together a run of singles over the next three ends, tying the game in the fourth. Gray regained the lead with a deuce in the fifth and followed up with steals in the sixth and seventh to secure the victory.
Ryan Wenarchuk had first-draw bye.
Original 16 Cash League action continues every Wednesday night at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
