Senior Team Israel - Curling

The game Israel - New Zealand was a must win for both teams: a win by Kiwis would qualify them for playoffs and eliminate us, a win by Israel would most likely produce a three-way tie for places 2-4 between Israel, New Zealand and Wales and an average Last Stone Draw (LSD) numbers, accumulated over all round Robin games would be used to decide the 2nd and 3rd place in the division. Our LSD numbers actually were quite good so we had a chance.

We opened with a hammer but gave up a steal of one in a little bit of a shaky first end. We responded with a well played solid second end and Kevin had a relatively easy draw for two on his last shot, but his rock overcurled and stopped well short of the target despite he, Mark and Aaron were sure the weight was right. Later in the game Kevin replaced that rock, maybe that would need to be done earlier. In the third end we made a few misses: two double attempts crushed on guards then with the last shot we were only able to remove one rock and they ended up scoring three and then forced us to one in the fourth, but not before four great shots from both skips: their double which resulted in an angle freeze to our rock, then an amazing soft touch tap back to lie two by Kevin (hard to believe that shot was even possible), another double by their skip, and finally a draw for one by Kevin against two.

After a break we played very solid fifth end with a great draw to the button by Alex and a series of guards and peels their skip was able to pick this our rock out. Kevin made another clutch freeze to their rock at the back four, but their skip was able to follow Kevin's path and to score a single. With a score now 2-5 the New Zealand team didn't want to complicate the game obviously but it was a very well played end for us: we managed to generate needed protection in front of the house and with three precise draws to the button by Alex and then Kevin we scored 3 points to tie the game. Seventh end was going well for us and with his last shot Kevin just needed an open hit-and-stay to lie two and to force them to one point, but the throw was a little off and his rock stayed straight and rolled out - a crucial point in the game. They needed a simple hit for two and they made it. In the eight end we managed to generate some much needed offense and were close to score a deuce and to force an extra end but we weren't sharp enough and they didn't miss.

A tough loss to a strong team in a game that could go either way and which we aren't ashamed of. We gave it all on the ice and were close to make it happen.

We are eliminated from playoffs now with one more remaining game against Poland tomorrow which we should win in order to stay at .500 and at the fourth place in our group. Poland is winless so far but you can't take any team easy here.

With Kevin Golberg, Alex Pokras, Aaron Horowitz, Mark Morrison

On this photo from WCF web site Mark is delivering the rock in the fifth end.

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