ALBERTON-John Likely scored his only deuce of the game Thursday at the Western Community Curling Club and it couldn’t have come at a better time. He entered the final end of the P.E.I. Tankard provincial men’s curling championship’s ‘A’ qualifier trailing Jamie Newson by one point but with the all-important last rock advantage. It was then that Likely and his team of Anson Carmody, mate, Steve Burgess, second and Matthew Nabuurs, lead, scored their deuce for a 6-5 victory.

Anson Carmody, mate on the John Likely rink, prepares to sweep a Steve Burgess stone during the P.E.I. Tankard provincial men’s curling championship at the Western Community Curling Club in Alberton. Likely, whose team also consists of Matthew Nabuurs (alternate) and Robbie Doherty, is the only undefeated team in the modified triple knock-out competition. – Eric McCarthy

The Likely rink, which lists the Charlottetown Curling Complex and the host Western club as their home club, now drops into the ‘B’ qualifier semi-final where they will play PE.I. Junior champion Tyler Smith in this evening’s 7 p.m. draw. Smith scored one with hammer in the last end for an 8-6 win over Darren Higgins Thursday morning, pushing the Silver Fox rink to the brink of elimination sporting a 0-2 record in the modified tripe knock-out competition.

Defending men’s champ Eddie MacKenzie from the Charlottetown Curling Complex put another Summerside rink on notice; his 8-4 win over Steve van Ouwerkerk drops van Ouwerkerk to 0-2. The 0-2 teams don’t return to action until Friday’s 2 p.m. draw.

Today’s other ‘B’ Qualifier will feature a rematch of one of the games from the opening men’s draw with Newson facing MacKenzie. Newson won the opener 8-7 in an extra end.

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