Atlantic International Challenge - Day Three Report

Scotland enjoyed another undefeated day at the Atlantic International Challenge, securing two wins and a draw across today’s three matches.

Session Seven

Scotland produced the perfect start to day three by claiming a 12-0 win over the USA in the first session of the day.

Mark Kelsey led the way in the men’s singles as he clinched a straight sets victory against Bill Brautt. Trailing 4-5 after seven ends in the first set, Mark showed great resilience to win the last two ends and secure the set 10-5. Using this momentum, the Scot raced into an 8-0 lead after only three ends in the second set, and despite losing the next six ends he managed to win the set 8-6.

Jason Banks, Daniel Gormley, Gary Prunty and Connor Milne led from the off and never looked back as they defeated Daniel Gorelick, Corey Vose, Scottish Marzonie and Bob Schneider. Leading 8-1 after four ends, the Scots were pegged back to only hold an 8-6 advantage after six ends. The Scottish team moved up a gear from this point onwards and ran out with an 18-10 victory.

In the women’s singles, Dee Hoggan had to come from behind to get the better of USA’s Joan Robbins in a closely contested match. Dee got the better of the opening exchanges and led 3-0 after two ends, Joan then responded with an excellent run of ends to win the set 10-7. In the second set, Dee once again gained herself an early advantage as she was 7-1 in front after four ends and battled hard to eventually win the set 9-7. The match now entered a three end tie break with Dee coming out on top 2-1 after some brilliant drawing bowls in the last end.

Dawn Anderson, Rebecca Houston, Beth Riva and Lynn Lees also made a strong comeback to beat Martha Nilsen, Dee McSparran, Joanne Hedgepath and Sandy Wall. The Scots made a slow start to proceedings and found themselves trailing 0-7 after four ends. Knowing how vital every point is, the Scottish quartet came roaring back to win the next seven ends in a row to take a 17-7 win.

Scotland v USA

• Men’s Singles – Mark Kelsey beat Bill Brautt 2-0 (10-5 & 8-6)
• Men’s Fours – Jason Banks, Daniel Gormley, Gary Prunty & Connor Milne beat Daniel Gorelick, Corey Vose, Scottie Marzonie & Bob Schneider 18-10
• Women’s Singles – Dee Hoggan beat Joan Robbins 2-1 (7-10, 9-7 & 2-1)
• Women’s Fours – Dawn Anderson, Rebecca Houston, Beth Riva & Lynn Lees beat Martha Nilsen, Dee McSparran, Joanne Hedgepath & Sandy Wall 17-7

SCOTLAND 12 – USA 0

Canada v Ireland

• Men’s Singles – Cameron Lefresne lost to Stuart Bennett 0-2 (5-9 & 7-11)
• Men’s Fours – Mike McNorton, Jon MacDonald, Rob Law & Kody Olthof lost to Mark Foster, Stephen Kirkwood, Adam Rankin & Ian McClure 8-11
• Women’s Singles – Jordan Kos lost to Zoe Stratton 1-2 (7-7, 7-7 & 1-2)
• Women’s Fours – Linda Ng, Joanna Cooper, Baylee Van Steijn & Emma Boyd beat Hannah Cochrane, Zoe Minish, Sophie McIntyre & Sandra Baillie MBE 13-9

CANADA 3 – IRELAND 9

Session Eight

The spoils were shared 6-6 between Scotland and Canada in today’s second session of play.

Mark Kelsey suffered a tie break defeat at the hands of Cameron Lefresne. The Scot held an 8-3 advantage after six ends in the opening set but lost the last three ends which resulted in him losing the set 8-9. Responding well to this setback, Mark rallied himself to lead the whole way throughout the second set, with the scoreline eventually being 9-5 in favour of the Scot. Unfortunately, Mark was unable to capitalise on this momentum and lost out on the tie break 0-2.

Our men’s fours team of Jason Banks, Daniel Gormley, Gary Prunty and Connor Milne had to mount a heroic comeback to claim their victory against Mike McNorton, Jon MacDonald, Rob Law and Kody Olthof. Struggling to find their feet, the Scottish rink trailed 0-7 after four ends but managed to fight their way back to only be three shots behind with two ends remaining. A crucial count of five shots on the second last end was enough to turn the contest in Scotland’s favour, with the team finishing up as 12-9 victors.

Dee Hoggan struggled to get going in her women’s singles encounter and lost out in straight sets to Canada’s Jordan Kos. The Canadian was in inspired form and took the first set 16-2 following a brilliant display of consistent drawing. A similar pattern followed in the second set with Dee finding herself 0-10 behind after four ends. The former Scottish singles champion did begin to make a late fight back, but it was too little too late and the set finished 7-10 to Canada.

Dawn Anderson, Rebecca Houston, Beth Riva and Lynn Lees chalked up their second win of the day with a well earned victory against Linda Ng, Joanne Cooper, Baylee Van Steijn and Emma Boyd. There was nothing to separate the two sides at the halfway point with the scoreline locked at 7-7 after six ends. The Scottish team began to put their opponents under more pressure in the second half of the contest and eventually secured a 12-9 win.

Scotland v Canada

• Men’s Singles – Mark Kelsey lost to Cameron Lefresne 1-2 (8-9, 9-5 & 0-2)
• Men’s Fours – Jason Banks, Daniel Gormley, Gary Prunty & Connor Milne beat Mike McNorton, Jon MacDonald, Rob Law & Kody Olthof 12-9
• Women’s Singles – Dee Hoggan lost to Jordan Kos 0-2 (2-16 & 7-10)
• Women’s Fours – Dawn Anderson, Rebecca Houston, Beth Riva & Lynn Lees beat Linda Ng, Joanna Cooper, Baylee Van Steijn & Emma Boyd 12-9

SCOTLAND 6 – CANADA 6

Ireland v USA

• Men’s Singles – Stuart Bennett beat Bill Brautt 2-0 (12-5 & 9-8)
• Men’s Fours – Mark Foster, Stephen Kirkwood, Adam Rankin & Ian McClure beat Daniel Gorelick, Corey Vose, Scottie Marzonie & Bob Schneider 17-4
• Women’s Singles – Zoe Stratton beat Joan Robbins 2-0 (10-6 & 11-8)
• Women’s Fours – Hannah Cochrane, Zoe Minish, Sophie McIntyre & Sandra Baillie MBE beat Martha Nilsen, Dee McSparran, Joanne Hedgepath & Sandy Wall 18-8

IRELAND 12 – USA 0

Session Nine

Scotland rounded off day three with a crucial 9-3 victory against Ireland.

In the men’s singles, Mark Kelsey got the better of Stuart Bennett to claim a straight sets win. Mark found himself 3-6 behind after four ends in the first set but managed to win four of the five remaining ends to clinch the opening set 10-7. The second set was roles reversed with Mark holding a 5-2 advantage after six ends, however, the contest was far from over at this stage. Stuart was able to score five shots over the next two ends to give himself a 7-5 advantage going into the last end. With a set lie against him and having the final bowl in hand, Mark played an excellent conversion shot to trail the jack for three and win the set 8-7.

Jason Banks, Daniel Gormley, Gary Prunty and Connor Milne struggled to get a foot hold in their men’s fours game, losing out to Mark Foster, Stephen Kirkwood, Adam Rankin and Ian McClure. The Scottish quartet trailed 2-11 after eight ends but managed to score on the remaining three ends to eventually lose 6-11.

Dee Hoggan managed to overcome Ireland’s Zoe Stratton following a dramatic tie break. Both players were finding their line and length consistently well, but it was the Scot who done enough to win the opening set 9-6. The second set was another closely contested affair, however this time around it was Zoe who picked up two shots in the final end to take the set 7-6. After losing the first end of the tie break Dee found herself with a match lie against her on the second end but played a perfect running bowl to push the jack through the head in her favour. With the scoreline tied at 1-1, Dee held her nerve to draw within a foot of the jack which was enough to see her win the final end and the match 2-1.

Dawn Anderson, Rebecca Houston, Beth Riva and Lynn Lees completed a hat-trick of victories in the women’s fours on day three courtesy of their victory over Hannah Cochrane, Zoe Minish, Sophie McIntyre and Sandra Baillie MBE. Scotland made a slow start to proceedings and were 1-5 behind after five ends. Displaying a strong fighting spirt, the Scottish rink fought their way back into the game and chalked up an impressive 9-7 victory.

Scotland v Ireland

• Men’s Singles – Mark Kelsey beat Stuart Bennett 2-0 (10-7 & 8-7)
• Men’s Fours – Jason Banks, Daniel Gormley, Gary Prunty & Connor Milne lost to Mark Foster, Stephen Kirkwood, Adam Rankin & Ian McClure 6-11
• Women’s Singles – Dee Hoggan beat Zoe Stratton 2-1 (9-6, 6-7 & 2-1)
• Women’s Fours – Dawn Anderson, Rebecca Houston, Beth Riva & Lynn Lees beat Hannah Cochrane, Zoe Minish, Sophie McIntyre & Sandra Baillie MBE 9-7

SCOTLAND 9 – IRELAND 3

Canada v USA

• Men’s Singles – Cameron Lefresne beat Bill Brautt 2-0 (13-5 & 9-5)
• Men’s Fours – Mike McNorton, Jon MacDonald, Rob Law & Kody Olthof beat Daniel Gorelick, Corey Vose, Scottie Marzonie & Bob Schneider 12-7
• Women’s Singles – Jordan Kos beat Joan Robbins 2-0 (8-7 & 14-3)
• Women’s Fours – Linda Ng, Joanna Cooper, Baylee Van Steijn & Emma Boyd lost to Martha Nilsen, Dee McSparran, Joanne Hedgepath & Sandy Wall 8-9

CANADA 9 – USA 3