Jones upsets Einarson’s applecart at Scotties

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This article was published 28/02/2021 (1982 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PROVINCIAL rivals Kerri Einarson and Jennifer Jones are part of what promises to be a spectacular Sunday at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

However, neither of Manitoba’s world-class squads gained direct entry into the late finale. In fact, each has some serious work to do to seize the prize

Einarson was denied first place in the championship round after losing 10-9 in a gripping fashion to Jones late Saturday. The defending champions from Gimli (Team Canada) are in the semifinal, instead.

Jones, the six-time champion, facing two Einarson counters, calmly grabbed a hefty slice of the button with a last-rock draw in an extra end.

“There’s always nerves, that’s what makes sport exciting. But I feel really good with speed this week, for the most part. I’ve missed a couple here and there but felt pretty good,” said the skipper, whose crew calls the St. Vital Club home. “We knew the speed had held up all game.”

Third thrower Kaitlyn Lawes had no doubts her longtime leader would secure a victory.

“I always feel confident holding the broom for Jen on her last one, so I was just excited to say, ‘Line’s good’ and let the girls (sweepers Jocelyn Peterman and Lisa Weagle) do their thing.”

Jones actually trailed 6-4 after six ends

That vaulted Jones into a 9 a.m. tiebreaker with Alberta’s Laura Walker. Both teams share identical 9-3 records. Walker beat East St. Paul’s Chelsea Carey 9-4.

Team Jones needs to rattle off three straight victories to experience the joy of another Scotties triumph

“We’re just so grateful for the opportunity to play, and for us to be playing on championship Sunday, that’s exactly where we want to be,” Lawes said. “Whether we have to play 10 games or one game, it doesn’t matter, we’re just so happy to be on the ice and thrilled to keep playing .

The Einarson team, with Val Sweeting at third, second Shannon Birchard and lead Briane Meilleur, fell to 10-2 at the conclusion of the championship round, the same as Ontario’s Rachel Homan. But the Ottawa team beat Team Canada during round-robin play and earned a pass to the Sunday final.

Einarson plays the tiebreaker winner in the 1:30 p.m. semifinal.

Homan beat Sherry Anderson of Saskatchewan 7-2 to punch a ticket to the final. Nearly eight-months pregnant, Homan sat and watched the exciting finish between Einarson and Jones.

“That was quite the battle… lots of really close shots. It was a back and forth battle, for sure,” she said.

The bye to the final is a major plus near the conclusion of a long, pressure-packed event, Homan said.

“Personally, it’s pretty huge for me not to play three games (Sunday), said the 31-year-old former three-time Scotties winner. “But I know we were able to do whatever it took to be in that final. Thankfully, we were able to get that bye.”

Indeed, it’s been high drama at the Scotties so far, the first of four Curling Canada events inside the protective bubble, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Scotties winner receives a berth to next year’s championship in Thunder Bay and receives a prize of $100,000 of the $300,000 total purse.

Unfortunately, the world championship that had been set for Switzerland has been cancelled, owing to the pandemic, and might not be rescheduled for later in the year.

Winnipeg’s Beth Peterson, skipping the event’s Wild Card 3 team, capped off her first Scotties with a 10-3 romp over Laurie St-Georges of Quebec, finishing with a 7-5 record.

The Assiniboine Memorial squad, with third Jenna Loder, second Katherine Doerksen and lead Brittany Tran, a Calgary native, won six of their last eight contests.

“First of all, we didn’t even think we’d be here, so we’re just so thankful we got the opportunity from Curling Canada to be here and to come out and throw rocks together and be together,” said Peterson, 26. “Honestly, we haven’t seen each other a lot this year. And obviously, getting some wins in there helped and getting to play so many games and learning from other teams.

“I’m sure I’ll think of a handful of shots over the next month or so that would get us playing (in the playoffs) but that’s curling for you. I’m just proud of the wins we were able to get and even the losses where learned a lot. Some of them were really close games, an inch here or there, or one shot,” she added. “I’m just so happy that I got to experience my first Scotties with the four ladies (including fifth Cathy Overton-Clapham) that are here.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell