The Wee Grand Match 2008
Following the Christmas Lunch twelve members participated in a wee Grand Match in the Stewartfield Farm. Using one table, six pairs played in two round robin leagues, followed by three games to decide the final standings.
The game for the wooden spoon was between Ben Miloudi/Brian Wood and Barclay Wales/David Brown, and despite Barclay's somewhat extravagant style he and David won 4 -1 leaving Ben and Brian with the blunder broom. The bronze medal play off between John Morning/Frank McLuskey and John Cardno/GeorgeMcGraw was decided by the same score in favour of John and George. Frank's striking style was more than balanced by John, who seemed to find his weight after his fifth pint.
The game for the gold medal was a tense affair played over an "exhausting" five ends between the all "professional pair" of Ray Porrelli and Jim Moretti (The Italian Mob) and Leslie Irvine and Andrew Ferguson (The Rugby Ruckers). Andrew although appearing in his second consecutive final still retains his amateur status.
The Ruckers went into an early lead and were up 4-1 after three ends and looked in control, but amazingly the Mob pulled it back to 4-4 as Jim, managing to avoid the pick ups which can plague his game, found a rare streak of form.
The play off end was dramatically close with control of the head changing from shot to shot, but an attempted final stone draw by Andrew wrecked on a guard and the Mob were triumphant by two shots, winning 6-4.
Afterwards, in the post match conference, Jim revealed that he had been having problems with his weight all afternoon (he normally drinks half pints), and the final was the only game in which he played well - according to Ray never a truer word was spoken.
Final Rankings:
Gold Medal - Ray Porrelli & Jim Moretti
Silver Medal - Leslie Irvine & Andrew Ferguson
Bronze Medal - John Cardno & George McGraw
Fourth Place - John Morning & Frank McLuskey
Fifth Place - David Brown & Barclay Wales
Blunder Broom - Ben Miloudi & Brian Wood