Muirhead delivers again as women stay on course for curling semi-final

Published on Friday 19 February 2010 22:26

EVE Muirhead underlined her growing reputation with an inspired performance as Great Britain's women curlers beat Germany 7-4 in their latest round robin match in Vancouver.

The 19-year-old British skip provided the game's key moment with a brilliant hammer stone in the ninth end which paved the way for a hard-earned victory.

Britain have now won three and lost one of their opening four round robin matches and look to be well on course for a place in the semi-finals.

Muirhead, Jackie Lockhart, Lorna Vevers and Kelly Wood, back in action after being taken ill in the win over Russia, appear to be very relaxed and brimming with confidence.

"Hi everybody at home," said a beaming Muirhead as she waved to the cameras.

Germany took the lead on the opening end but Britain drew level on the second end. Muirhead cleared out two German stones with her final stone on the third end and Britain took a 2-1 lead.

Germany looked set to regain the lead in the fourth end but skip Andrea Schoepp failed to clear out the British stones with the hammer and the lead was extended to 3-1. Germany drew level in the fifth end, scoring with two stones but Muirhead's hammer secured a point on the seventh end to give Britain a 4-3 lead.

Schoepp's hammer on the eighth end levelled the match at 4-4 but, on the ninth end, Muirhead seized the initiative. Her hammer stone finished up on the button to give Britain three scoring stones and a seemingly unassailable 7-4 lead going into the tenth and final end.

The Germans conceded the match with two stones each remaining on the tenth end.

Meanwhile, men's skip David Murdoch led Britain to a crucial 9-6 victory over Denmark to keep the world champions' semi-final hopes alive.

The men had suffered their second loss in three games earlier when they were beaten 4-3 by Switzerland, leaving them with little margin for error in the remaining six round-robin matches if they were to qualify for the last four and live up to their pre-tournament favouritism, but the quartet of Murdoch, Ewan MacDonald, Pete Smith and Euan Byers came good.

Murdoch had the hammer shot to close out the second end but with three Danish stones in scoring positions his double takeout was not enough to prevent the Danes taking a 1-0 lead. The British were soon on top, though, as Murdoch took out two Danish stones with his final two throws and put his team 2-1 up.

Danish fourth Johnny Frederiksen levelled the game at 2-2 with a takeout of Murdoch's stone on his hammer. Murdoch edged Britain back in front with a point in the fifth end but

the Danes were back in front after the sixth end after scoring two points. Then, with Murdoch's first throw of the eighth end, the penultimate shot of the end, he delivered a double takeout and left two British stones in scoring positions.

Frederiksen sent his stone into the mix but Murdoch delivered again, taking out the Dane's and leaving another of his in the house for a 6-4 lead.

The Danes were not done, though, and Frederiksen levelled the contest with two points in the ninth to take the score to 6-6 but leaving Murdoch with the hammer shot.

His first shot was good, taking out a Danish stone and leaving his in a scoring position, only for Frederiksen to nudge his out and leave the Danes in the button.

That left Murdoch with the hammer and victory hinged on his final stone. Right on target it took out Frederiksen's and earned Britain with three points to seal the much-needed win.

Britain's men had a day off yesterday before resuming their round-robin campaign against China and the host nation Canada, who moved their unbeaten record to 4-0 with a 12-5 defeat of France, the French conceding after eight ends.