There were two very close games this evening at the PEI Scotties Tournament of Hearts Provincial Women’s Curling Championships at the Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club in Summerside. In the “A” section final of the four team modified triple knockout round, it was a battle between Summerside natives – Suzanne Birt and Kathy O’Rourke, both from the Charlottetown Curling Complex, with O’Rourke coming from behind, with her fourth stone thrower Robyn Green making a double to count three in the final end for an 11-9 win. O’Rourke had a 5-1 lead in the game after three ends, but Birt took five points in the next two ends to lead 6-5 at the fifth end break. The teams traded singles in six and seven to maintain Birt’s one point lead, but Green hits & sticks for 2 in end eight to give O’Rourke an 8-7 lead. Green’s former skip Birt came back with her own hit and stick for two to lead 9-8 coming home without the hammer, but the three pointer by Green in the final end gave O’Rourke the win.
In the other game, defending champion Kim Dolan from the Charlottetown Curling Complex edged Lisa Jackson from the Cornwall Curling Club 9-8. Jackson was trailing Dolan 9-6 coming home, and had a chance to score three for the tie, but her rock jammed, and she took two, for her second loss in the championship.
Winning the A final gave O’Rourke a spot in the two game championship round on Monday. If she wins all three section finals, she will win the event without a championship game. If a team wins two sections, they will play in both championship games on Monday, and win the championship if they take either, while their opponent would have to win both.
Saturday at 10 am Dolan faces Birt, with the winner playing O’Rourke at 3 pm in the B final, and the loser taking on Jackson. Also on Saturday at 10 and 3 are the first games in the round robin Future Scotties developmental event, for female curlers from the Pepsi Juniors who might one day go on to the Scotties.
Here’s the 10 am Saturday Future Scotties draw:
Lauren Lenentine (Cornwall) vs Sierra Clyke (Crapaud/Silver Fox)
Lauren Moerike (Ch’town) vs Kristie Rogers (Cornwall)
Sunday draws are also at 10 and 3, with the two game championship round (if needed) going at 1 and 6 pm.
Game Story for this evening’s games:
End 10 (A Final): Robyn Green makes double & counts 3. Final score O’Rourke 11 Birt 9.
Jackson had chance to hit & stick for 3 but jams & gets 2. Final score Dolan 9 Jackson 8.
End 9: Dolan hits & sticks for 1. Dolan 9 Jackson 6.
Birt hits & sticks for 2. Birt 9 O’Rourke 8.
End 8 Jackson makes nice draw against 1. Dolan 8 Jackson 6.
Green hits & sticks for 2 to give O’Rourke 8-7 lead over Birt.
End 7: Jackson tries hit for 2 but hits guard, gives up 1. Trails Dolan 8-5.
Birt just makes draw facing 1, leads O’Rourke 7-6
End 6: Dolan draws for 2 to lead Jackson 7-5.
Green Hits for 1. Birt & O’Rourke tied @ 6.
End 5 Jackson hits to blank but stays for 1. 5-5 vs Dolan.
Birt steals 3 when Green’s draw a bit heavy, leads O’ Rourke 6-5.
End 4 Dolan Hits for 3. 5-4 Dolan over Jackson.|
Birt Hits & sticks for 2. O’Rourke 5 Birt 3
End 3 Jackson hits & sticks for 2. 4-2 Jackson.
Birt tap back against 3 is light but cuts them down to 1. 5-1 O’Rourke
End 2: Dolan draws for 2 to tie game at 2-2 vs Jackson.
Robyn Green tap back on Birt stone gets 3 to give O’Rourke 3-1 lead
End 1: Jackson/Dolan: Jackson draws for 2.
Birt/O’Rourke: Birt taps back for 1 in 1st end
In the Friday afternoon draw, O’Rourke beat Jackson 6-2, while Birt defeated Dolan 9-5.
Live Curlcast results are available at curlatlantic.com/scoreboard (
Updates are also available on Twitter @PEICurling.
There is no admission charge to attend the event.
Event website is: https://peicurling.com/
The winning team from the Scotties Tournament of Hearts Provincial Women’s Championship will advance to the national 2015 Scotties in Moose Jaw SK, Feb. 14-22.