In the driver’s seat
Undefeated Casey meets Newson today with a chance to win P.E.I. title
Jamie Newson knows the task in front of him.
His Charlottetown Curling Complex rink must beat Adam Casey’s team three straight times to win the P.E.I. Tankard.
“We just have to win the first one,” Newson said Sunday evening. “If we win that first one, we get a little momentum going.”
Newson’s team of third John Likely, second Mark O’Rourke and lead Mark Butler defeated Tyler Harris 7-1 in four ends Sunday to advance to today’s C final at 1 p.m. at the Charlottetown Curling Complex.
“We know we have, hopefully, three more (games) to play, so we need the rest,” Newson said.
His team opened with one in the first, stole four in the second and two more in the third to take a commanding 7-0 lead.
Casey had to go five ends to beat Tyler Smith’s rink 8-2.
Trailing 1-0 after an end, Casey counted four in the second. After Smith scored another single in the third, Casey had back-toback deuces and the teams shook hands.
Casey’s rink from the Silver Fox and Charlottetown clubs includes third David Mathers, second Anson Carmody and lead Robbie Doherty. They are undefeated and have knocked off Newson in the A and B finals by 11-3 and 7-6 scores, respectively.
Casey would be declared champion with a win at 1 p.m. while a Newson victory would lead to a playoff in the modified triple-knockout championship. The first playoff game would be at 6 p.m. while a second playoff game, if needed, would be played Tuesday at 4 p.m.
“I think we’re driving the bus right now,” Casey said. “We just have to go out there and execute and play the best game we can. If we do that, it will be tough for Newson and them.”
Against Smith, Casey said scoring four in the second was big.
“The way Anson and Dave are throwing it makes it really tough for teams to come back on us,” he said.
Newson said he missed a shot for four in the B final against Casey earlier on Sunday.
“We know we can beat them, we just have to play a little better.”