Black, Hilliard start strong at Scotties

A pair of Dartmouth rinks are off to strong starts at the Nova Scotties curling championship.

Defending champion Christina Black and clubmate Tanya Hilliard sport 2-0 records after Friday morning action at New Glasgow's Bluenose Curling Club.

Black, third Jennifer Baxter, second Karlee Everist and lead Shelley Barker downed Jessica Daigle (Halifax) 8-5 while the Hilliard rink of third of third Taylor Clarke, second Mackenzie Feindel and lead Heather Macphee edged Marlee Powers (Halifax) 5-4. Sarah Murphy (Halifax) took advantage of four-point sixth end to topple Jocelyn Nix (Glooscap/ Windsor) 9-5 and Kristen Macdiarmid defeated Halifax clubmate Jennifer Crouse 8-5.

Black and Hilliard met in a later game on Friday in the triple knockout event.

In the men's Tankard, also being hosted at the Bluenose Club, Halifax clubmates Paul Flemming and Owen Purcell met in a battle of undefeated teams on Friday afternoon. On Thursday evening, Flemming edged Stuart Thompson (Dartmouth) 7-6 while Purcell topped Peter Burgess (Truro) 8-3.

In Friday games, Andrew

Gibson (Mayflower) and Travis Colter (Dartmouth) managed to stay alive in the championship with victories. Gibson defeated Nicholas Deagle (Bridgewater) 9-5 and Colter downed Ian Fitznerleblanc (unafilliated) 6-3. Deagle and Fitzner-leblanc each suffered their third loss to join Peter Heck (Truro) among eliminated teams. Gibson and Colter each have a pair of losses and cannot afford another setback.