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Manitoba’s Fowler wins Brier bronze (CCA)

(by Larry Wood)

What a difference a year makes. A matter of 365 days ago, at London’s Tim Hortons Brier, the bronze-medal playoff game was one that nobody wanted to play. Not Brad Gushue the winner. And definitely not Kevin Martin, the loser.

But there was no such unwillingness on Sunday morning at the Credit Union Centre.

Both teams — the Territories and Manitoba — expressed a strong interest in heading home from the 83rd Brier, not with fourth place but with a tertiary finish and a medal. And that interest showed.

Team Manitoba celebrates after winning the Bronze Medal at the 2012 Tim Hortons Brier. (Photo: CCA/Michael Burns Photography)

At the end of a well-played match, Manitoba’s Rob Fowler of Brandon emerged an 8-7 victor against Jamie Koe of the Territories with an open draw to the four-foot in an extra end.

It was see-saw all the way with spectacular shots accentuating the action. From the moment Manitoba was forced to accept a single with last rock in the first end, control changed hands no less than five times.

“We got a prize there that money can’t buy,” said Fowler, whose team of Allan Lyburn, Richard Daneault and Derek Samagalski won $30,000 for the victory.

“To go home without a medal considering the week we had here would have been disappointing. Money comes and goes but we’ll have that bronze medal forever.

“Sure that game meant something to us. I think it speaks to our team. We handled ourselves in a classy manner all week and today was no different.

Click for full story at the CCA website

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