THUNDER BAY – The remarkable run of Robyn Despins has led her into the playoff round at the Northern Ontario Women’s Curling Championship.
Despins was forced to an extra end by the team from Timmins, skipped by Lauren Mann, but prevailed, making a hit-and-stick with her final shot to pull out a 9-8 that guaranteed the Thunder Bay foursome of lead Rebecca Carr, second Samantha Morris and third Nicole Westlund-Stewart no worse than a semfinal berth at the seven-team event.
Despins could finish atop the standings, but would need a loss by Sudbury’s Emma Artichuk in her finale Saturday night against Thunder Bay’s Claire Dubinsky.
She’ll leave that for the organizers to work out at this point, happy she and her teammates accomplished their first – of many – goals for the week.
“It feels really exciting. We came out this morning and knew that our backs were against the wall and we had to win out, so that’s what we did,” Despins said.
“It was a battle, but we just persevered through the whole game and never gave up and just kept pushing all the way through to the extra. It was a grind.”
There were rocks in play all 11 ends and the two teams managed to put up points in each one. Mann got the early jump, grabbing a deuce in the opening end, but Despins roared back with a three, then stole a single in the third to move in front 4-2.
She led 5-4 through six ends and added two more in the seventh, but Mann made a hit for two in the eighth and another one in the 10th for two more to force an extra end.
Mann had a chance when Despins’ first shot in the 11th rubbed, but she left her opponent a relatively open hit for the win.
Despins, who has curled great all week, was not about to miss.
The best is yet to come, she hopes.
“This is what we worked for. This is our first goal, to make it to playoffs. Obviously, we want to win this, and we’re a good step forward into that, so we’re excited,” Despins said.
Artichuk, who is all but locked into the playoffs at 4-1, a win behind Despins and tied with four-time defending champion Krista McCarville, needed just eight ends to put away North Bay’s Lauren Johnston 7-2.
The goal is to just keep getting better as the week goes on, said the Ottawa native, who joined forces with Sudbury’s Laruen Rajala, Jamie Smith and Megan Smith this season.
“Every game we’re getting a better handle on the ice. We’re working better and better as a team together. Our draw scores have been incredible. Every game we just keep getting better and better.”
Getting there is the only way to win it all, she said
“Obviously the goal is to make the playoffs and then anything goes on Sunday,” Artichuk said.
McCarville needs a win on Saturday night over Mann (4-2) to make the semifinals.
Draw 13 takes place Saturday night at the Port Arthur Curling Centre, starting at 7:30 p.m.
