Morris and Team B.C. find win column at Tim Hortons Brier

ST. JOHN’S – It’s only Day 2 of the Tim Hortons Brier but John Morris and his British Columbia team from Vernon/Kelowna were already in a critical position after two losses. But like the veteran team they are, the Morris foursome bounced back in Sunday’s afternoon draw with a solid 11-6, eight-end win over Mike Kennedy of New Brunswick (1-1; Fredericton). “We had a tough first two games,” Morris said posting his first win of the Brier. “Came out with a real good team effort this afternoon and we’ll try to build off that momentum.” Morris, third Jim Cotter, second Tyrel Griffith, lead Rick Sawatsky, alternate David Harper and coach Jody Epp, representing the Vernon and Kelowna Curling Clubs, struggled in their first games, both losses. “We just weren’t playing well enough,” Morris said flatly. “Playing about 75 per cent curling, which might win you the odd game here, but when you’re playing the likes of Glenn Howard and Brad Jacobs you can’t give an inch. And we gave too many in the first two games.” But they gave first signs of renewed life in the third end against New Brunswick, Morris drawing for three after a double take-out by Cotter set up the end. Another triple in the eighth convinced Kennedy and his crew to concede victory. “We know it’s a long week,” Morris, a three-time Tim Hortons Brier champion, said. “You have to remain patient and not look too far ahead. We knew we had better games in us and today we showed it. We were a lot better as a team and if we play like that this week we’ll be in a good position come the end of the week.” While B.C. cruised to the win, another former Tim Hortons Brier champion, Brad Jacobs of Northern Ontario (2-1; Sault Ste. Marie) needed his sweepers to drag his last-rock draw into the eight foot for a 9-8, 11th-end win over Quebec’s Jean-Michel Ménard (0-2; Lévis). In the two other games in the fourth draw, Adam Casey of Saskatchewan (2-1; Regina) scored triples in the first and eighth ends to beat Jamie Koe of the Northwest Territories (0-2; Yellowknife) while Jamie Murphy of Nova Scotia (2-0; Halifax) beat Tim Hortons Brier rookie Brendan Bottcher of Alberta (0-3; Edmonton) 11-6. Tonight’s draw is at 8 p.m. NST. For ticket and other event information, https://www.curling.ca/2017brier/ For the complete schedule, go to https://www.curling.ca/2017brier/draw/ This story will be posted in French as soon as possible at https://www.curling.ca/2017brier/?lang=fr TSN (RDS2 in French), the exclusive television network for Curling Canada’s Season of Champions, will provide complete coverage of the 2017 Tim Hortons Brier.