Jones Beats Nedohin
Posted at 6:37 pm on February 20, 2013
Jennifer Jones has handed Heather Nedohin and Team Canada their first loss of the 2013 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. The two teams had a share of the lead, boasting 6-0 records heading into Wednesday’s first draw.
Manitoba played a patient game. Normally known for her aggressive style, it was impressive to see Jones wait for her opportunity to strike. After Nedohin opened the game with a single point, Jones blanked the next two ends waiting for an opening to post multiple points. That window opened in the fourth end, and Manitoba capitalized, taking a 2-1 lead.
Team Canada failed to respond. They blundered in the fifth, giving up a steal of one.
After trading deuces in the sixth and seventh end, Jones pulled off another steal to extend her lead.
In an attempt to close the gap, Nedohin was forced to play a tricky double take-out in the ninth end. She made the shot, just barely holding her shooter in the rings to score two points and bring the game within one.
But it was too late. With Jones carrying the hammer into the tenth end with a one point lead, she played a clean end to coast safely to a 8-5 win.
The downfall for Team Canada came from the back-end. The front-end of these two teams were very well matched, with all leads and seconds curling 79% aside from Canada’s lead Laine Peters, who curled 80%. At the back-end, however, the Jones/Lawes combo out-played Nedohin/Iskew. Jones personally finished with an impressive 85%, while Nedohin struggled at only 69%.
This drops Team Canada one point back from the lead pack. Now Jones is matched only by Team Ontario, skilled by Rachel Homan, who also won their game during this draw to maintain their 7-0 record.