Staff
Stratton curlers Matthew Armstrong and Jessica Haw haven’t got off to the starts they were hoping for so far at the Northern Ontario Bantam provincial playdowns.
Both rinks were sitting at 0-2 following play this morning.
Armstrong, competing at the Fort Frances Curling Club, was blanked 13-0 in six ends by Tanner Horgan (Sudbury) in his opening draw last night, then fell 11-3 to Kevin Gravel (Smooth Rock Falls) this morning.
The Stratton crew, which includes third RJ McDonald, second Jake Vandenbrand, and lead Cody Armstrong, gave up a steal of two in the first end last night.
Then they allowed Horgan to swipe singles in the second and third ends before giving up a four-ender in the fourth, which put the game out of reach.
Armstrong fell behind 4-0 to Gravel after three ends this morning, but scored a deuce with the hammer in the fourth to trail by just a point heading into the mid-game break.
But after both rinks traded singles in the following two ends, Gravel delivered a crushing blow in the seventh by scoring a four-ender.
He then stole two more points in the eighth to round out the scoring.
Gravel, Horgan, and Zacharia Warkentin (Thunder Bay) were tied for first place after two draws at 2-0.
Armstrong has two more games today, facing Connor Lawes (North Bay) at 2:30 p.m. and then Warkentin at 7 p.m.
Three more draws are scheduled for tomorrow, with the round-robin concluding Sunday at 9 a.m.
Tie-breakers, if needed, will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
The top three teams will earn a berth at the Ontario Winter Games, which will take place March 8-11 in Collingwood.
As for the Haw rink, which includes third Maria Vandenbrand, second Elyssa Hughes, and lead Nicole Hartlin, their opening draw last night in Longlac saw them drop a 9-4 decision to Leah Hodgson (Sault Ste. Marie).
After jumping out to a 4-2 lead after five ends, Haw only could look on as Hodgson came roaring back to life with a deuce in the sixth and then a steal of four in the seventh.
This morning’s game was a tight affair against Krysta Burns (Sudbury). But despite stealing one in the final end, Haw dropped her second game by a score of 5-4.
Burns, Hodgson, and Jessica Poliquin (Longlac) all were tied for first following this morning’s draw at 2-0.
Haw will play two more games today, against Jenna Poirier (Sioux Lookout) at 2:30 p.m. (EST) and then Poliquin at 7 p.m.
The girls’ playdowns also will conclude Sunday, with the top three teams advancing to the Ontario Winter Games.
