DAVID AND JAMES BAIRD JUST MISS OUT IN SCOTTISH JUNIOR PLAYDOWNS

“DAVID AND JAMES BAIRD JUST MISS OUT IN SCOTTISH JUNIOR PLAYDOWNS”

“David and James were playing in Perth in the Scottish Junior Regional playdowns with Gavin Barr and Callum McLean in an all Murrayfield team.  They had a great first win against one of the pre-tournament favourites, Ross Whyte from Dumfries.  They followed that up on the Friday with an agonisingly close loss to Gregor Cannon from Stranraer.  Next up was Fraser Keil from Greenacres (with Stewart Barr’s nephew Grant); this was a tight game all the way through to the ninth end when a big 3 secured the win for the Greenacre team.

Their biggest win came on Saturday night against another Greenacre skip, George McConnell and that set them up nicely – they were well in the hunt on two wins and two losses, though they still had the reigning Scottish junior champions to face on Sunday morning.  That game didn’t go according to plan but they were still in the hunt of a Scottish finals place if they managed to win their tie-break game against Fraser Keil.  Nip and tuck!  Keil raced to an early 3-shot lead but a steal of three for the Murrayfield team in the fifth end saw them take a 4-3 lead in the game.

Sadly, that was it.  Keil scored a one, then stole another one in the eighth end finishing the game 5-4.

Great experience for the four boys though and well done to them for getting so close.  Next year beckons!”