Johnson, Craig book tickets into A semi final at 2016 Canadian Direct Insurance Championships
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Michael Johnson and Wes Craig booked tickets into the A semi final after posting wins during the evening draw at the 2016 Canadian Direct Insurance BC Men’s Championships Wednesday at the Nelson Curling Club.
Johnson, third Chris Baier, second Ty Dilello and lead Mitch Young, was able to double Royal City Curling Club teammate Dean Joanisse 6-3 while Craig, edged Sean Geall 7-6.
The two rinks meet Wednesday morning in Draw 4 with a shot at advancing to the A event final in the evening against the winner of Jim Cotter and Glen Jackson and the top spot in the Page Playoffs.
Against Joanisse, Johnson took control of the game by scoring two in the sixth and eighth ends. He finished the 2015 finalist off with a steal of one in the ninth.
Meanwile, Craig and Geall exchanged body blows throughout the contest with Geall rallying back from a 6-3 deficit by scoring a triple in the ninth end.
In the tenth, however, Craig was able to keep the ice clean enough to get his single point to secure the win.
In other B event games, Jason Montgomery of Victoria outlasted Will House of Richmond 8-6; Daniel Wenzek of Langley, with Nelson Fred Thomson on the rink as a spare, blasted Neil Dangerfield of Victoria 9-3 and Jeff Richard of Kelowna got back into the win column by outlasting Mark Longworth of Vernon 11-10. Richard won the game the hard way, scoring two in the ninth before stealing a pair in the tenth end.
Action continues Thursday with draws scheduled for 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
