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Einarson tops Fleury to reach Manitoba Scotties final

Kerri Einarson is through to the final of the Manitoba Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Einarson moved on with an 8-6 victory Saturday night over Tracy Fleury to hand the defending champion her first loss of the women’s provincial curling tournament in Rivers, Man.

After alternating singles to start, Einarson counted a three-ender in the third and stole one in the fourth to run away with the lead. The teams traded points in five and six and Fleury narrowed the gap with deuces in seven and nine while limiting Einarson to a lone point in eight. Einarson was able to add another one with the hammer in the final frame.

Fleury will have another opportunity to reach the final taking on Jennifer Jones in the semifinal. The six-time Canadian champion Jones eliminated Kristy Watling 8-5 to advance.

The winner will represent Manitoba later this month the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts while the other two teams are also expected to head to Moose Jaw, Sask., to face off for the wild-card entry. Fleury, Einarson and Jones are ranked 1-2-3 on the Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) women’s standings and no other teams will be able to catch them.

Watch live coverage of the Manitoba Scotties Tournament of Hearts Sunday on Sportsnet starting with the semifinal at 10 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. CT followed by the final at 5 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. CT.

Meanwhile, Rachel Homan successfully defended the Ontario women’s title with a 7-6 victory over Hollie Duncan in Saturday night’s final. Homan posted an undefeated 9-0 record through the tournament. John Epping and Glenn Howard will face off in the Ontario Tankard men’s final Sunday.

Also on tap for Sunday are the semifinal and championship games for British Columbia (men’s and women’s), New Brunswick (men’s), Newfoundland and Labrador (men’s), Northern Ontario (men’s and women’s), Saskatchewan (men’s) and Northwest Territories (men’s).

Team Scotties Tournament of Hearts Tim Hortons Brier
Canada Chelsea Carey Kevin Koe
Alberta Laura Walker Feb. 5-9
British Columbia Sunday: Sarah Wark
vs. Corryn Brown
Sunday: Jim Cotter vs.
Mark Longworth/Tyler Tardi
Manitoba Sunday: Kerri Einarson vs.
Tracy Fleury/Jennifer Jones
Feb. 4-9
New Brunswick Andrea Crawford Sunday: James Grattan
vs. Jason Roach
Newfoundland and Labrador Erica Curtis Sunday: Brad Gushue vs.
Trent Skanes/Andrew Symonds
Northern Ontario Sunday: Krista McCarville vs.
Krysta Burns/Laura Johnston
Sunday: Brad Jacobs vs.
Sandy MacEwan vs. Mike Badiuk
Nova Scotia Mary-Anne Arsenault Jamie Murphy
Ontario Rachel Homan Sunday: John Epping
vs. Glenn Howard
Prince Edward Island Suzanne Birt Bryan Cochrane
Quebec Noemie Verreault Alek Bedard
Saskatchewan Robyn Silvernagle Sunday: Kirk Muyres vs.
Kody Hartung/Matt Dunstone
Northwest Territories Kerry Galusha Sunday: Jamie Koe vs.
Greg Skauge/Glen Hudy
Nunavut Lori Eddy Jake Higgs
Yukon Hailey Birnie Thomas Scoffin
Wild-Card Feb. 14 Feb. 28