Howard rink drops tough decision at Brier

Though they managed to battle back from an early deficit, Team Glenn Howard of the Penetanguishene Curling Club is in a tough spot at the 2022 Tim Hortons Brier in Lethbridge, Alta.

The Howard rink, which includes third Scott Howard, second David Mathers, and lead Tim March, fell to 0-3 after a 7-5 loss to Kevin Koe of Alberta on Sunday afternoon.

Howard, in the event as Team Ontario, had an opportunity to opening up a sizeable early lead on Koe, but a narrow miss led to a steal for the Alberta-based team.

After Koe drew to the edge of the button with his last, Howard looked to play an in off using one of his own rocks to remove the Koe rock and score three, but instead missed and surrendered a steal of one for the Alberta rink.

Howard would rebound in the second end, drawing for one to tie the game.

Koe took a 3-1 lead in the third end when Howard tapped an Alberta rock too far with his final shot and Koe proceeded to remove one of two Howard stones near the button to score a pair.

In the fourth end, Howard would draw for one to cut the Koe lead to 3-2.

With Howard sitting as shot rock in the fifth end, Koe looked to hit and stick for potentially a pair but rolled off the Howard rock and out of the rings. After a measurement, Koe came out of the end with one and a 4-2 lead.

In the seventh end, Howard got the game back on even terms with a pair in the seventh end, but Koe restored the lead with a hit and stick for a pair in the eighth end.

The teams traded singles in the final two ends to cap off the scoring in the game.

Howard returns to action with just one game on Monday.

As the lone Pool A team not playing in the morning draw, Howard will face James Grattan of New Brunswick in the evening draw, scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Midland time.