McEwen Retains Perth Masters title for first time in 40 Years

The final was a little one sided with some great raised takeouts demoralising the Norwegian European Champions.

The draw shot challenge for hammer was so close they had to decide hammer by a coin toss and the coin toss gods favoured McEwen.

Once the Canadian took his two in the first end he then controlled the second end to force Ulsrud to take his one.

Ulsrud came back strong in the third end and forced McEwen to draw the four foot for his two but he played heavy and only took his one. He is human after all.

Unfortunately Ulsrud could not capitalise and coming up short with a draw for one in the fourth end gifted a two to Team McEwen who were now in the driving seat and shifting up gears.

Another steal of one in the fifth end essentially lost the game for Thomas and his team but they played on for the crowd and maybe in the vain hope that Team McEwen would collapse and allow them in. Fat chance.

McEwen cleared up all the guards and ran back double takeouts to leave the Norwegian team with nothing to hide behind and they looked like broken men coming down the last end and although they managed to draw the last stone for a one they shook hands and the 2012 Masters in Perth came to an end.

Mike McEwen and his team became the first team to retain the Perth Masters title for 40 years, last time being in 1972 and 1973 when Alex F Torrance from Hamilton ruled the roost in Perth.