Penetanguishene’s Glenn Howard will head into the final day of Championship Pool action at the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier in a tie for top spot.
Team Howard, being skipped this week by Wayne Middaugh, picked up a split on Saturday at the 10-day event in Calgary.
In the tournament as a wild card team, Team Howard sits at 8-2, tied for first with another wild card team, skipped by Kevin Koe.
In the afternoon draw, the Howard rink scored four in the third end en route to a 9-5 win over Team Saskatchewan, skipped by Matt Dunstone.
With Dunstone leading 1-0 through one end, Middaugh blanked the second end before taking a 4-1 lead in the third.
The teams proceeded to trade singles in the four subsequent ends.
After Dunstone cut the lead to 6-5 with a pair in the eighth end, Middaugh sealed the win with a single in nine and a steal of two in the 10th end.
“You try to exceed your own expectations every day and we’ve done that so far,” Middaugh said in media availability provided by Curling Canada following the win. “The thought of Sunday is still two days away.”
In Friday’s evening draw, the Howard rink dropped a 10-8 decision to Team Ontario, skipped by John Epping.
The team jumped out to an early lead with three in the opening end against Epping.
The teams traded singles in the following two ends before Epping scored four in the fourth end to go ahead 5-4.
After Middaugh scored a single to tie the game, Epping scored three more in the sixth end to lead 8-5.
Middaugh cut the lead to 8-7 with two in the seventh end, but Epping responded with two of his own in the eighth.
Middaugh capped off the scoring with one in the ninth end.
The Howard rink is set to return to action on Saturday with a pair of games.
The team will open the day against Team Canada, skipped by Brad Gushue, in the afternoon draw at 2:30 p.m. (eastern time) before facing Team Wild Card2, skipped by Kevin Koe, in the evening draw at 8:30 p.m. (eastern time).
In other action during the afternoon draw, Team Manitoba, skipped by Jason Gunnlaugson, beat Team Ontario 7-6.
Team Alberta, skipped by Brendan Bottcher, beat Team Wild Card2, skipped by Kevin Koe, 8-7 in an extra end.
Team Northern Ontario, skipped by Brad Jacobs, beat Team Canada, skipped by Brad Gushue, 7-2 in eight ends.
In the evening draw, Team Wild Card2 scored four in the 10th end to beat Team Northern Ontario 8-5.
Team Canada beat Team Manitoba 12-2 in eight ends on the strength of four steals.
Team Saskatchewan beat Team Alberta 8-7.
Teams carried over their records from round robin play into the Championship Pool.
Following a pair of draws on Saturday, the three teams with the best records will move on to the playoff round on Sunday with the team with the top record advancing directly into the final on Sunday evening.
