Team Barker Stands Tough on Day 2
Chad Pimlott
Day 2 at the Viterra Scotties Tournament of Hearts didn't start as well for Moose Jaw's Penny Barker as she would have liked. But her remarkable finish was a strong reminder of how good she can actually be.
It's not as if her team doesn't have history of fighting back. I mean, just yesterday they clawed back into a battle against Robyn Silvernagle's rink and damn near pulled off a real tough comeback.
Penny, Deanna Doig, Danielle Sicinski and Lorraine Schneider have made a name for themselves for being scrappy, gutsy competitors who refuse to buckle against tough challengers. It's how they won the damn title in 2017:
They were fortunate enough to sit out Draw 3 today. It gave them a chance to relax and take in all the splendour of Melville or Melfort or whatever the hell Saskatchewan backwater hosted this year's event.
Draw 3 Results:
- Ashley Howard beat Amber Holland 7-6
- Robyn Silvernagle beat Candace Chisholm 7-6
- Sherry Anderson beat Nancy Martin 9-5
- Stephanie Lawton beat Chantelle Eberle 8-3
In Draw 4 Barker and the gang took on Team Candace Chisholm from way down in Carlyle. It was a back-and-forth affair, but Barker just couldn't pull it off. Losing 8-6 to fall to 1-2.
Other Draw 4 Results:
- Amber Holland beat Stephanie Lawton 9-3
- Robyn Silvernagle beat Sherry Anderson 7-4
- Nancy Martin beat Ashley Howard 8-4
Draw 5 was Barker's chance to erase any doubts about their bid for a repeat. They were up against Stephanie Lawton, who has won this tournament 4 times before and could easily be considered the odds on favourite to win again.
Barker jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead after two ends, but the indefatigable Lawton scratched back with three points in the third. Barker's momentum seemed to deflate and before you knew it she was trailing 6-4 at the start of the 8th. But wouldn't you know it, that 8th end turned out to be the start of something special. Barker cut the lead down to one, then scored two more in the ninth to take a 7-6 lead. Lawton took her easy point in the 10th and once again Barker found herself in extra ends, after a gritty performance, against the top competition in the province. Only this time the girls were able to pull it off. Penny took that lonesome point in the 11th end, and for the second time in as many years, defeated Stephanie Lawton at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Final score: 8-7, for the good guys.
After two days of curling action, Penny Barker's Moose Jaw rink is a respectable 2-2.
Other Draw 5 Results:
- Nancy Martin beat Amber Holland 6-5
- Candace Chisholm beat Ashley Howard 8-5
- Chantelle Eberle beat Sherry Anderson 9-2
After two days of Scotties action, its still up for grabs. Here are the current tournament standings:
Chantelle Eberle 3-1
Robyn Silvernagle 3-1
Stephanie Lawton 3-2
Candace Chisholm 2-2
Penny Barker 2-2
Ashley Howard 2-2
Sherry Anderson 2-3
Nancy Martin 2-3
Amber Holland 1-3