(by Danny Lamoureux) Atlantic Canada’s representatives in the men’s section of the Canadian Senior Curling Championships swept their opponents in opening round action today in Summerside, PEI.
The home province’s Rod MacDonald was in tough against Alberta’s Wade White falling behind 5-1 after four ends of play. The PEI skip scored three points in the 5th end followed up by a steal of three points in the 9th end to lead the match 9-7. MacDonald then ran his opponent out of stones in the last end.
Glenn Goss (CCA photoO
Last year’s national runner-up, Glenn Goss of St. John’s, NL, opened with an exciting 6-5 win over Quebec’s Robbie Maclean. The game was tied at five playing the final end when Geoff Cunningham, throwing last stones, calmly drew to the four foot for the victory.
This was the third game for Nova Scotia’s Alan O’Leary, but his first in the main draw. O’Leary and crew survived the pre-qualifying round to advance. He kept his good play going, scoring three in the 9th end against Sudbury’s Duncan Munro of the Idylwylde G&CC for an 8-4 margin.
New Brunswick’s Wayne Tallon completed the Atlantic sweep with a hard fought win over Gord Bell of Saskatchewan. A key steal of one point in the 5th end and a solid count of two in the 9th sealed this win at 7-4.
In other matches, Ontario’s Howard Rajala defeated Manitoba’s Bob Sigurdson 8-7. The Rideau CC (Ottawa) foursome scored three points in the 5th end to take control. They led by two playing the last end, however Sigurdson could not manufacture a legitimate chance to tie.
In the final game on the ice this afternoon, Yellowknife’s Glen Hudy stormed out to a 4-1 lead on BC’s Craig Lepine. Undaunted, the BC skip roared back with two points in the 4th end and then stole a total of seven points in the next three ends. The final score was 10-5.
The Canadian Seniors is being played at the Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club in Summerside, PEI. Results can be found at http://www.curling.ca/scoreboard/?e=8.
Play continues all week with the championship finals for both genders scheduled for Sunday, March 24 at 11:00 am ADT. The winners will represent Canada at the 2014 World Seniors at a location yet to be announced.