PEI’s Suzanne Birt rink was in top form in tonight’s game against Saskatchewan’s Jill Shumay foursome, winning 12-7 in nine ends to hand the western team their first loss and improve to 2-3.

CCA Photo: Shelly Bradley

The shot of the night had to be a double raise runback by PEI third Shelly Bradley in end five to sit 3. Birt then drew for a deuce and a 6-4 lead. Saskatchewan then tied it up in end six with a deuce after Birt crashed on a guard. The seventh end was the most interesting with a couple of timeouts and lots of rocks in the four foot. Bradley again pulled off a big shot, hitting several rocks across the four foot to knock out a Sask. rock and count three. Birt then removed another opposing rock to lie four. Shumay tried andngle raise on her rock in the eight foot, but left PEI lying 3. Birt tried a difficult draw for four but settled for 3.to lead 9-6.

Sask. was counting three in the four foot in the eighth end, when Bradley picked two of them out, avoiding two PEI stones in the process. Bradley hit another Sask rock to lie one. Saskatchewan hit it out, but set up a double with their stones. Birt removed them both, leaving only a PEI rock in the house. Sask.  drew to  it, but Birt removed it to lie 2. Shumay drew for one, with PEI leading 9-7.

In the ninth, Sask. was lying 2 behind a long guard. Bradley peeled the guard. Saskatchewan tried to replace it but left room for PEI to come in.. Shumay  tries a draw to the four foot, but ended up short, in the 12 foot, giving Birt a hit for three points. Saskatchewan shook hands, for a 12-7 final score.