Skips Birt, Scheidegger lead Pool B at Scotties

SYDNEY, N.S. — Prince Edward Island’s Suzanne Birt and Casey Scheidegger’s wild-card rink are tied for top spot in Pool B at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts curling tournament.

P.E.I. (4-1) edged New Brunswick’s Andrea Crawford, 13-12 in an extra end, while Scheidegger (4-1) beat Kerry Galusha of the Northwest Territories, 6-5, in two close contests on Tuesday afternoon at the Canadian national women’s curling championship.

Galusha (3-2) missed a chance to force an extra end when she was heavy with last rock on a shot for two in the 10th.

Scheidegger’s Alberta rink earned the final berth in the Scotties with a win over Manitoba’s Kerri Einarson in the wild-card game on Friday night.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Jones’s Team Canada (3-2) snapped a two-game losing streak with a 9-7 win over Yukon’s Nicole Baldwin (0-5).

Saskatchewan’s Robyn Silvernagle (3-2) is tied with Jones’s Manitoba rink and Galusha for third in the pool after her 8-4 win over Kelli Sharpe of Newfoundland and Labrador.

In Pool A play, Rachel Homan suffered her first loss at the Scotties.

The Ontario skip dropped a 6-5 decision to former provincial rival Tracy Fleury, now representing Manitoba, in the morning draw.

Homan (4-1), a three-time Canadian champion, couldn’t hold onto a 4-1 lead after scoring three in the second end and one in the third.

It was a much-needed victory for Fleury (3-2), who’s rink has now won three straight at the Scotties.