Scottish Student Sport League
Dewars Centre, Perth, 7th March 2012

With the news that University of the West of Scotland were unable to field a team in their later game, David Jenkins, Michael Nicholson and Andrew Grieve headed into this fixture knowing it would be their last ever for Edinburgh University in the SSS league, only second Fraser Stockton being able to play on next year.  Edinburgh were yet to win a competitive match in the SSS league this season and they were determined to leave on a high.

The team quickly found tee weight and had the perfect start, with Grieve able to draw in for a four. The second end was much tighter with both leads drawing well, however a missed take-out by Stockton gave Strathclyde the advantage they needed to take their two. The third end was just as tight with the front of house very guarded and Strathclyde lying  with two stones in the house.  Grieve was forced into a very tricky hit and roll which rolled just slightly two much and allowed Strathclyde a steal of two to equal things up.

Having given away what had been a very strong lead Edinburgh were determined to get it back in the fourth end. Nicholson got Edinburgh off to the perfect start with two draws that were perfectly guarded.  With Strathclyde unable to remove them Grieve was able to take out Strathclyde’s lying stone and take 3. However Edinburgh were unable to carry any momentum and were unlucky not to have any of their draws securely guarded, being fortunate when Strathclyde’s draw for five came up short.

The final end was just as tight as the rest of the match and again both teams played aggressively, drawing into the house. However Edinburgh appeared to be doing it better with four stones in the four-foot. A very impressive tap-up from Strathclyde’s skip squeezed in-between them all to lie shot. Grieve, with very few options, tried to tap up one of his own stones to knock it out. However this was unsuccessful and Strathclyde earned a point and therefore won the match.

Clearly Edinburgh University were gutted to come so close and not get the win; however their performance was regarded as one of the best this season and certainly gives them a boost for the upcoming Varsity match against Heriot Watt University.

Fraser Stockton