It’s difficult to compete with the kind of experience the Jennifer Jones rink brings to the table, and Tracy Fleury’s rink found that out Friday in the wildcard game to open the 2020 Scotties at Mosaic Place.

After a smooth draw to the four foot under pressure in the tenth end, Jones won an exciting match between the two Manitoba-based skips 8-7 to move on to the Scotties, knocking out Fleury.

Jones' draw was solid, which was good because some of both skips' shots weren't as accurate as they would have liked. 

"I felt really good with the speed all game," she said. "The hits were running a little bit straight. When I let it go, it was as much as I wanted to throw, so I was very happy when it stopped."

Early on, Fleury was able to capitalize on a rare Jones miss in the second end, when Jones’ peel attempt on a Fleury rock in the corner nicked the stone, but not enough to knock it out.

Jones counted two in the third but another miss on her first stone in the fourth led Fleury to have a simple draw for two.

Jones counted three in the fifth end with a draw to the four foot and took a commanding 5-3 lead after five. Fleury was able to get one right after and keep it close.

But Jones’ performance in the eighth end to count two and take a 7-4 lead put the Fleury rink in a tough spot. Fleury responded by setting up some guards that ended up in the rings, and she counted three to tie the game coming home in the tenth end.

"I was really proud of how we huslted in the ninth end to get three there," Fleury said. "That was big for us."

Then, the last end looked good for Fleury until Jones nailed her draw. 

The opening draw is Saturday at 1:30, and the opening ceremonies kick off the event at noon.