The race for top spot in the Haney Master’s Curling League tightened this week following victories by the rinks of Jack Stadel, Wayne Chin and Bill Hanula.
The Stadel rink, with Wayne Leech, Tony Stadig and Terry Lajeunesse, extended their unbeaten record to 5-0 with an easy victory over the Terry Gregory rink to retain a slight lead in the Spring competition.
With the loss, the Gregory rink of Max Albrechtsen, Walter Vesa and Earl King failed to move into sole possession of first place. Instead they dropped into fourth place behind Hanula’s rink who drubbed the Darrell Winterlik rink, and Chin, who edged Angelo Masaro’s rink in a hard-fought contest.
Hanula’s rink, with lead Stan Melanson, second Kent Skene and third Rudy Baird, controlled their game from start to finish in recording an easy 9-1 victory.
In the most exciting game of the draw, Chin and Masaro battled down to the final stones before Chin’s rink pulled out the win.
Tied 4-4 going into the seventh end, Masoro’s rink of William Ritchie, Hugh McIntyre and Hilly Boonstra were laying five until Chin, on his last rock, cut the difference to one point.
With Masaro ahead 5-4 entering the eighth and final end, the Chin rink, consisting of George Lagerstrom, Barry Elson and Ed Belsey rallied back. Two outstanding draws by Lagerstrom sealed a 7-5 victory for Chin.
With only four games remaining before play-offs, Stadel has a two-point lead over both Hanula and Chin while Gregory is just 3-pts back.