Scots women curlers' hopes slide while men stay on target with win

Published on Monday 7 December 2009 23:11

SCOTLAND'S teams had contrasting fortunes yesterday at the Le Gruyère European Curling Championships in Aberdeen.

Despite producing some of their best play of the event so far, Eve Muirhead and the Scots went down by 3-6 to table-topping Russia, who kept their unbeaten record after four round-robin games.

By contrast, David Murdoch's men cruised to their fourth win, beating Denmark comfortable by 9-3.

In the women's game, Russia opened with a two in the first end after this the teams swapped singles for a 3-1 score. However, after the Scots blanked the fourth end, the game turned in the fifth, when, with Scotland poised for a big score, Russia delivered a perfect hit and roll behind cover that eventually gave them a single steal and a 4-1 half-time lead.

The Scots tried time and again to build the ends in the second half of the game, but there was no way back, and they eventually went down 6-3.

Having lost to the table-toppers, it does not get any easier for the Scots girls. Their next opponents are reigning European champions Switzerland, followed by current Olympic champions Sweden. The Scottish women's medal campaign is now under severe pressure.

Defending European champion David Murdoch produced another one-sided victory to sweep aside the challenge of Denmark.

After blanking the first end, the Scots scored three in the second and then stole singles in each of the third and fourth ends for a 5-0 lead.

Denmark opened their account with a single in the fifth and then stole two shots in the sixth, but after this, the Scots put the pressure on again, stealing twos in the seventh and eighth to force Denmark to concede with the score at 9-3.

The Scots now have four wins and one loss in Aberdeen, one win behind unbeaten round-robin leaders Norway, who they meet today.