Saskatchewan loses first two games in Scotties championship pool

Saskatchewan lost both of its games Friday in the championship pool at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Sherry Anderson’s team out of the Saskatoon Nutana fell 8-6 to Team Canada’s Kerri Einarson in the afternoon draw, then dropped a 10-9, extra-end decision to Beth Peterson’s Wild Card 3 squad in the evening draw of the Canadian women’s curling championship in Calgary.

Amber Holland, Saskatchewan’s fifth player at the tournament, filled in for Anderson in the late game as the skip dealt with back issues.

The losses dropped Saskatchewan’s record to 6-4. The Anderson squad is to play Alberta’s Laura Walker and Ontario’s Rachel Homan on Saturday and is in a must-win situation if it hopes to advance to Sunday’s playoffs.

The top three teams after championship pool play are to advance to the playoffs. The top seed goes right to the evening final and the second- and third-place teams will meet in an afternoon semifinal.

Homan (9-1), Einarson (9-1), Walker (7-3) and Manitoba’s Jennifer Jones (7-3) held down the first four places in the standings after Friday’s action. Peterson and Quebec’s Laurie St-Georges were tied with Anderson at 6-4, with the Chelsea Carey-skipped Wild Card 1 team (5-5) out of playoff contention.

In the afternoon draw, Anderson led 4-1 after three ends, but gave up two in the fourth and a steal of two in the fifth to Einarson.

After Anderson tied the game with one in the sixth, Einarson put up a deuce in the seventh and stole one in the eighth to take control.

Against Peterson, Saskatchewan led 6-4 through seven ends but gave up four in the eighth and a steal of one in the ninth to trail 9-6 coming home.

Holland scored three in the 10th to tie the game, but came up light with her last rock in the extra end and Peterson scored one for the win.