Pinkney’s rink out of the Truro Curling Club extended its unbeaten streak to six games by edging Judy Oryniak’s Ontario team 6-5 in an extra end, but it wasn’t without a bit of adversity.
Oryniak’s rink, which has struggled to a 1-5 record, knotted the game 4-4 in the eighth end.
In the ninth end, Pinkney would take advantage of the hammer and score a single point, setting up drama in the final end.
With Nova Scotia holding a 5-4 lead, Oryniak and Co. were sitting three with one shot apiece remaining, and the hammer on their side.
Pinkney connected on a double-raise, knocking her own stone into second-shot position, but leaving the door wide open for Oryniak to draw past it for a two-point end and the win. Oryniak’s shot was heavy, however, and didn’t stick close enough to count for a second point, thus forcing an extra end.
“To be honest, we were very happy to even have the extra end to begin with,” Pinkney said. “We were in quite a bit of trouble in the 10th.”
Ontario came on strong in the extra end, having four stones in play before Nova Scotia had any. With a single rock near the button, Oryniak’s squad threw guard after guard, protecting the single point they needed for the win.
Nova Scotia would rally, however, connecting on a takeout which removed two Ontario guards and leaving shot rock wide open.
Ontario would throw yet another guard before Pinkney showed why her team is the consensus team to beat, and snuck a rock mere millimetres around the previous shot. With a crowd gathered around now, Oryniak would attempt to make the same shot as her counterpart for the win. However, she couldn’t sneak it by the guard, giving Nova Scotia their sixth straight victory.
Keeping the momentum rolling, despite a few missteps, is an important factor moving forward, Pinkney said.
She credits her team for sticking around, despite being outplayed at times late in the game.
“I think it showed a lot of patience and just how well we work together,” said Pinkney. “We never give up.”
She also credits the Ontario rink for putting up one heck of an effort.
“The Ontario team played fantastic, so we just feel very fortunate to end up with the win,” she said. “We had to just play to give me a chance with my last rock, and thankfully it worked.”
Nova Scotia will face Newfoundland and Labrador (3-3) on Wednesday morning while Ontario (1-5) will take on Alberta (3-3).
Manitoba’s Lois Fowler rink from the Brandon Curling Club split its games on Tuesday – losing 8-5 to Saskatchewan's Cathy Inglis and defeating the Northwest Territories' Ann McKellar-Gillis 13-6.
P.E.I.'s Nola Murphy dropped both of her games — 12-5 to Northern Ontario's Vicky Barrett and 15-3 to Saskatchewan. P.E.I. Is 0-6.
jpsports@journalpioneer.com
