A solid run continued for Team Glenn Howard on Wednesday at the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier in Calgary.
The Howard rink, with Wayne Middaugh filling in at skip for an injured Howard, improved to 5-1 on Wednesday afternoon thanks to a 7-6 win in an extra end over Team New Brunswick, skipped by James Grattan.
The win lifted the Howard rink, which includes third Scott Howard, second David Mathers, and lead Tim March, now sit in a tie for top spot in the Pool A standings following the result.
The teams traded singles through the first four ends and moved into the sixth end tied at two after Middaugh blanked the fifth.
Middaugh picked up a pair in the sixth end to take the lead and, after Grattan scored a single with the hammer in the eighth end, the Penetanguishene-based rink extended the lead with two more in the ninth end to hold a 6-3 edge.
Grattan proceeded to force the extra end thanks to three in the 10th.
Team Howard has reeled off three consecutive wins heading into the final day of round robin action.
The Howard rink returns to action on Thursday morning against Team Northern Ontario, skipped by Brad Jacobs, at 10:30 a.m. (eastern time) before wrapping up the round robin portion of the schedule with a game against Team Manitoba, skipped by Jason Gunnlaugson, at 8:30 p.m. (eastern time).
In other Pool A action on Wednesday afternoon, Team Northern Ontario beat Team Manitoba 3-0.
Team British Columbia, skipped by Steve Laycock, beat Team Northwest Territories, skipped by Gregory Skauge 10-5 in nine ends.
The other Pool A game on Wednesday saw Team Alberta, skipped by Brendan Bottcher, beat Team Wild Card1, skipped by Mike McEwen, 9-3 in eight ends.
Pool A standings following action on Wednesday are:
- Team Manitoba (Jason Gunnlaugson): 5-1
- Team Wild Card3 (Glenn Howard): 5-1
- Team Northern Ontario (Brad Jacobs): 5-2
- Team Alberta (Brendan Bottcher): 4-2
- Team New Brunswick (James Grattan): 4-3
- Team Wild Card1 (Mike McEwen): 2-4
- Team British Columbia (Steve Laycock): 2-4
- Team Northwest Territories (Gregory Skauge): 1-5
- Team Yukon (Dustin Mikkelsen): 0-6
Pool B saw a pair of draws on Wednesday.
In the morning draw, Team Canada, skipped by Brad Gushue, used a pair of late steals to seal an 8-4 win over Team Prince Edward Island, skipped by Eddie MacKenzie.
Team Wild Card2, skipped by Kevin Koe, beat Team Saskatchewan, skipped by Matt Dunstone 9-2 in eight ends.
Team Quebec, skipped by Michael Fournier, beat Team Ontario, skipped by John Epping 10-7.
Team Newfoundland and Labrador, skipped by Greg Smith, beat Team Nunavut, skipped by Peter Mackey, 9-2 in eight ends.
The final draw of the day Wednesday, set for 8:30 p.m. (eastern time), was set to see four games from Pool B.
Following action on Thursday, the top four teams in each pool will advance to the Championship Pool, which begins play on Friday afternoon.
The top three teams following action on Saturday will advance to the playoff round on Sunday, with the top team earning a bye directly into the final.
