European qualifiers 7

After four games it was two wins apiece for the Wood and Loudon sides, so the scene was set for a deciding match at Perth this afternoon.

For me the tone of the match was set in the first end. With last stone Edith had a chance of a two, but had to settle for a single. Perhaps things might have turned out differently if she had made this last stone as well as she had played her first. But curling is not about 'ifs'!

The teams were tied 2-2 after three ends. Then the roof fell in on the Loudon side. Going after two wingers, Edith caught a front guard. Kelly though was on target and counted three to go ahead 5-2.

Confidence high, Kelly Wood, Jackie Lockhart, Lorna Vevers and Lindsay Wood were not going to be caught. They stole a single at the seventh to be 7-3 ahead and anything after this was really academic. Edith grabbed two back at the eighth, but when she was too long with her last draw at the ninth. Kelly was quickly into the four foot with her final stone for a two, and it was all over. You can find the linescore here.

Congratulations to Edith, Mairi Milne, Claire Milne and Katie Loudon for making it a super competition this weekend and taking it to the fifth game, and to Kelly and her team for pulling together and fighting hard for their success. The Wood team now get another chance on the European stage where they were the runners-up last year.

Top: Lindsay Wood, Kelly Wood (skip), Jackie Lockhart and Lorna Vevers. Pic by Bob.