Jones continues drive for Scotties three-peat

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This article was published 31/01/2010 (5953 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. — The Jennifer Jones team continues its quest for a third straight Canadian women’s curling title this morning with a game against a very hungry team.

Jones and the rest of Team Canada play Andrea Kelly of New Brunswick on the morning draw at the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. It begins at 9:30 a.m. Winnipeg time.

On Saturday night, Jones doubled up on fellow Manitoban Jill Thurston 10-5 in the first game for both teams.

Kelly’s Fredericton foursome lost a pair of games Saturday and is tied with Nancy McConnery of Nova Scotia at the bottom of the 12-team standings.

Kathy O’Rourke of Prince Edward Island is alone at the top at 2-0, while five teams, including Canada, Ontario, Alberta, Newfoundland/Labrador and Quebec, are at 1-0.

Sharon Cormier of the Northwest Territories/Yukon, is 1-1, while Kelly Scott of British Columbia and Amber Holland of Saskatchewan are 0-1.

Thurston plays McConnery this morning.

This afternoon at 2 p.m., it’s Thurston against Shelley Nichols of Newfoundland/Labrador, while Jones plays Holland. The two Winnipeg teams have a bye tonight.

On Saturday evening , a photo taken 19 years ago showing a group of smiling teens with really big hair flashed on the scoreboard at the Essar Centre here in The Soo.

Jones and Thurston had to laugh… at themselves.

The picture was of Thurston’s junior curling team — including Jones — that represented Manitoba at the Canadians in 1991. Things ended badly that day as they lost the national junior final. But it’s the hair they seem to regret the most.

That colourful image provided just about the only cheery moment for Thurston, who struggled with draw weight and it cost her against Team Canada.

The ice conditions had Thurston befuddled.

"It was very fudgy, almost felt like it was flat, and I just did not have it. I did not know what I was throwing," she said. "It was different than it was four hours ago. It just kept getting heavier and heavier as the game went on, and we never caught on.

"Everything builds on draw weight. If you don’t have draw weight, you have nothing. I was definitely frustrated because I felt like I was throwing what I wanted to throw but I wasn’t getting any results."

Case in point, Thurston came up light in the fourth to give up a steal of three to trail 4-2. She had a draw for a deuce to tie the score in the next end but again came up short and settled for one.

Another draw in the ninth end was light and Jones took three more.

Manitoba second Leslie Wilson said she expects her skip to bounce back today.

"Jill’s a great player. She doesn’t miss too many draws," Wilson said. "She had a tough game, but that’s OK. She was throwing what we were telling her to throw. We just kind of said, ‘Hmmmm.’"

Jones was satisfied with her team’s performance.

"A win is always good… better than a loss," said Jones, who is joined by Cathy Overton-Clapham at third, Jill Officer at second and Dawn Askin at lead. "Couple of ends got away with us, but we’re pretty happy with that start.

"We’re at the Scotties. It’s fun… no pressure."

Thurston also has Kristen Phillips at third and Raunora Westcott at lead.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca