(CCA-by Larry Wood) The World Financial Group’s Continental Cup is threatening to become the event’s biggest blowout in its seven-year history.
Team North America piled on the points again Friday at the Servus Credit Union Place, sweeping three men’s results on the night’s final draw to take a runaway 90-18 points lead in the four-discipline Ryder Cup-style curling event.
Mind you, even a 72-point advantage remained a few cuts short of a sure thing with a remaining 292 points up for grabs in skins game and singles today and Sunday.
The most one-sided Continental Cup finish transpired in 2007 at Medicine Hat when the Amerks thrashed the World team 290-110.
“Points-wise,” said an elated North American coach Rick Lang of Thunder Bay, “it’s not too significant when you look at all the points left on the board. But, I think, psychologically, they (World) might be feeling a little desperate.”
No kidding. The World team won only once in nine matches Friday. And it’s three-for-18 over the first two days of skirmishing.
To boot, the visitors have exhibited few signs of being a threat when action resumes on the weekend.
“We’re bleeding badly,” said Norway skip Thomas Ulsrud, the Olympic silver medallist who will play his Games final adversary Kevin Martin of Edmonton in Sunday night’s climactic men’s skins final.
Click to read this story at the Canadian Curling Association’s website.
(CCA Photo)