QUALI GAMES EXIT FOR SCOTLAND AT #WMDCC2023
Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat had to settle for fifth/sixth place at the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2023. The Scotland duo progressed to the play-offs as third in their group before missing out to eventual champions United States in the qualification games.
A tough start to the tournament saw Scotland defeated by world number two Jennifer Jones and Brent Laing of Canada who scored big in the opening end and had the Scots chasing from there. However, Jen and Bruce firmly found their rhythm henceforth. A comprehensive win over Denmark was followed by a late charge against Netherlands that bagged their second victory. Big scores versus Korea earned Scotland the win and an early finish, giving them some extra time to prepare for their fixture versus Italy in the afternoon. The Italian line-up featuring Olympic champion Stefania Constantini, partnered with Sebastiano Arman for this event, gave the Scots a good run and nothing could separate the teams percentage-wise. However, Scotland managed to score multiples while forcing Italy to singles in the first half, creating a points advantage they brought over the line.
Estonia’s world number four pair of Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill was up next in a predictably tough fixture. It was all square after seven ends as the sides kept cancelling each other’s advantages out over the course of the game. The Estonians stepped things up in End 8 though to steal one and claim victory. Scotland bounced back the next day though when they held off a late charge from Hungary and returned to winning ways. The momentum was badly needed as the Scots faced a crucial match versus Australia in the afternoon that effectively was a straight shootout for play-off qualification. A big score in End 1 gave Scotland the advantage over Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt and they managed their lead from there to secure progress to the knock-out stages. All that was left to be decided was whether Jen and Bruce would finish second or third in their group and they did their part by narrowly beating Czech Republic in their final round robin fixture. Results elsewhere wouldn’t go their way though and it was a third place finish for Scotland in Group A. Overall, Jen finished top of all female players on 79.5 per cent accuracy while Bruce was second among male players on 81.6 per cent.
On to the qualification games where Scotland faced Group B runners-up United States. Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin had the brighter start to the fixture and dealt a decisive punch in End 3 when they came out on the better side of a four-way-measure and added a big three points to their tally. The sides played a high quality game, Scotland shooting an average percentage of 88.4 while United States were on 89.6, but eventual champions Team USA kept the edge and took the win, ending the Scottish gold run at the world mixed doubles after two successive titles.
END OF THE ROAD FOR SCOTS IN QUALIFICATION GAME DEFEAT TO UNITED STATES (USA 8-6 SCO)
Scotland’s gold run at the world mixed doubles came to an end following an 8-6 qualification games defeat to United States. Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin took a big lead with a four-points score in End 3 that the Scots never managed to recover from.
United States had the brighter start to the game, scoring two in the opening end and subsequently forcing Scotland to one. The crucial punch followed in End 3 though. Two points were already safe for Team USA and the measure came out to decide between two American and two Scottish stones, all at similar distance. The four-way-measure determined that it would be four points for United States, giving them a massive advantage early on. Scotland were pressured into triggering their Power Play early and it came off when Jen was served an open draw for two. With some momentum now on their side, the Scots opened the second half with a single steal, courtesy of a freeze on the button from Jen. However, United States swiftly retaliated with a neat sixth end that earned them two points. Scotland too achieved a deuce in response, but they faced a two-points deficit with one end to go without hammer. The last two stones needn’t be thrown when Dropkin made a clean take-out, leaving nothing but his shooter in the rings, and arithmetically eliminated Scotland.
SCOTS HOLD OFF LATE CZECH CHARGE TO END ROUND ROBIN WITH WIN (SCO 6-5 CZE)
A steal of three in End 2 tipped the match in Scotland’s favour, but Czech Republic fought back and tied the scores with one to go. The Scots coolly bagged a point to see off Julie Julie Zelingrova and Vit Chabicovsky and ended the round robin with a win.
An underwhelming start for Scotland with a single score in End 1 swiftly turned into a great one when Zelingrova missed her shot in End 2 and gave away a three-points steal. Down by four, Czech Republic opted for a very early Power Play, but Scotland had the better end and limited their opponents to one. In turn, Scotland themselves were forced and the gap remained at four points at the break. The Czechs found some rhythm at the restart and scored a two, inspiring Scotland to trigger their Power Play. However, Czech Republic were in the driving seat and stole one to cut their deficit and indeed it was all square again when they followed it up with another single steal. The Scots didn’t panic though and played a clean last end that concluded prematurely when Zelingrova couldn’t lie shot with the penultimate stone and a score for Scotland was guaranteed.
PLAY-OFF SPOT LOCKED FOR SCOTLAND WITH WIN OVER AUSTRALIA (SCO 8-6 AUS)
Scotland scored big in End 1 and managed their lead from there to clinch a crucial 8-6 win over Australia’s Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt in what effectively was a straight shootout for play-off qualification.
A brilliant start to proceedings saw Jen served a comearound draw to the four foot for four points and she made to take an early advantage that would prove the difference in the end. Australia responded with a two that halved their deficit and it remained that way at the break as the teams traded singles in Ends 3 and 4. Scotland were looking to play a tricky tap for three at the restart, but when the angles didn’t come off, only two points went on their counter, nevertheless extending their lead. Australia answered with a two under Power Play to once more cut the deficit. They took some momentum in End 7 when, despite a Scottish Power Play, the Australians played some great stones and forced the one. However, there was no taking the win away from Scotland who in turn got the force in the final end.
SCOTS BACK ON WINNING WAYS WITH WELL-MANAGED TRIUMPH OVER HUNGARY (SCO 7-6 HUN)
Scotland took an early advantage and braved a late charge from Hungary’s Joo Linda and Tatar Lorinc, who took two successive steals in the last ends, to claim a 7-6 triumph and get back onto winning ways.
The early advantage went to Scotland who scored two in End 1 and subsequently forced Hungary to a single. Upon regaining hammer, Scotland once more took two, but this time the Hungarians were able to respond with a deuce themselves that kept the gap on one point at the break. The Scots came out swinging at the restart and Jen made a tricky double with the last stone to score three and extend their advantage. Hungary triggered their Power Play, but Scotland kept the upper hand and limited them to a single. However, the momentum somewhat swung from there. Despite a Scottish Power Play, Hungary kept the end clean and had Jen drawing against one with last stone. When her shot came up heavy, a single steal went on the Hungarian counter. It was a similar story in the last end when Joo made a beautiful freeze to lie two, both on the button, with the penultimate stone. Scotland needed to remove at least one to not give away more than a point and they fulfilled their task to win the game.
LAST END STEAL HAS SCOTS FALL TO SECOND DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF ESTONIA (EST 6-5 SCO)
It was all square after seven between Scotland and Estonia who kept cancelling each other’s advantages out over the course of the game, but world number four Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill stepped things up in End 8 to steal one and claim a 6-5 win.
Estonia had the brighter start to proceedings with a two-points steal in End 1. However, Scotland managed to fight back with a deuce in End 2 and indeed took the lead with a subsequent single steal. The scores were level again when Estonia scored a single and the advantage once more changed hands when the Estonians opened the second half with a single steal. Scotland triggered their Power Play and got a well managed two on the board, but their lead was short-lived. On the positive side, despite Estonia’s Power Play, Scotland managed to force and only allow Estonia to equalise rather than take the lead. The Scots were coming down with hammer, but Kaldvee played a magnificent freeze on top button that resulted in a single steal and victory.
SCOTS CARRY FIRST HALF ADVANTAGE OVER THE LINE TO SEE OFF ITALY (SCO 8-6 ITA)
There was nothing separating Scotland and Italy on accuracy percentages, but the Scots managed to score multiples while forcing Stefania Constantini and Sebastiano Arman to singles in the first half, creating a points advantage they brought over the line for an 8-6 win.
A bright start to proceedings saw Scotland get a three on the board in End 1 and they maintained the lead when forcing Italy to one in the second end. The Scots scored another multiple end, albeit only a deuce this time, and once more forced their opponents in End 4 to hold a three-points advantage at the break. Continuing in the same fashion, Scotland started the second half with a deuce and inspired Italy to trigger their Power Play advantage. Indeed, the Italians scored their first multiple and carried that momentum to force Scotland in End 7. Still, a four-points gap separated the teams with one end to go. Coming down with hammer, Italy scored two, but they couldn’t stop Scotland from taking their fourth win.
SCOTLAND SEE OFF KOREA IN HIGH SCORING, ENTERTAINING GAME (SCO 11-6 KOR)
A couple of big scores gave Scotland an insurmountable advantage and, eventually, an 11-6 win over Korea after just six full ends as Kim Jiyoon and Jeong Byeongjin couldn’t manufacture any points in the seventh and offered handshakes.
Four points in End 1 had Scotland off to a flyer, but Korea responded straight away with a three that cut the gap down. The Scots were up to the challenge though and scored three themselves to reinstate their advantage and indeed expanded it when they concluded the first half with a single steal. Korea triggered their Power Play at the restart and played a neat end that scored them a three. Scotland, in return, opted for their Power Play and once more copied their opponents with a three. Korea attempted the seventh end, but when everything was headed towards a big steal for Scotland, they decided to concede.
FINAL STAGES PUNCH EARNS SCOTLAND WIN OVER NETHERLANDS (SCO 7-4 NED)
After having managed a one-point lead for most of the game, Scotland took the gloves off in the late stages to see off Netherlands’ Vanessa Tonoli and Wouter Goesgens in a 7-4 win.
A steal of two compared for Scotland compared to a score of one for Netherlands gave the Scots a slim advantage in the early stages which they managed for most of the game as the sides traded equal scores for the next four ends. Crucially, a neat double take-out from Jen in the sixth forced Netherlands to take only a single in their Power Play end. Scotland in turn triggered their Power Play and made a take-out for two that took their advantage to three points with one end to go. They managed proceedings well and Jen used the penultimate stone to make a raise take-out to not only lie at least three, possibly four, but to arithmetically eliminate Netherlands.
SCOTS ENTER WINNING WAYS WITH COMPREHENSIVE SHOW VERSUS DENMARK (SCO 7-1 DEN)
Shooting at more than 90 per cent for most of their game versus Denmark, the Scots comprehensively got onto winning ways at #WMDCC2023. They scored big in End 1 and kept Jasmin Lander and Henrik Holtermann at bay from there with several steals, clinching a 7-1 victory after six ends.
A well-worked first end had Scotland in control from the start when Jen was served a raise on her own stone to score three. Their hold of the game became firmer when they followed it up with a one-point steal and Denmark could only respond with a single. Another point went on the Scottish tally in End 4, making it 5-1 at the break and prompting the Danes to make use of their Power Play at the restart. However, Scotland controlled proceedings and forced Lander to draw against two with the last stone. When her shot slid too far, a single steal went to the Scots who now well and truly held the momentum. A messy sixth end with loads of stones in play saw Scotland steal another one which brought a premature end to the fixture.
OPENING DEFEAT FOR SCOTS WHO LOSE OUT TO EARLY BIG POINTS FOR CANADA (CAN 8-4 SCO)
Scotland started their campaign for a third consecutive world mixed doubles gold medal with a tough 8-4 defeat to Canada. The Scots were chasing the game from the get-go after world number two Jennifer Jones and Brent Laing scored big in End 1 and saw all of their efforts henceforth matched.
Canada made their claim early with a well-worked first end that set Jones up for a tap for four. With the momentum on their side, they went on to collect a single steal that brought their advantage up to five points after just two ends. Scotland finally got on the board in End 3, but their one point did little to hurt the Canadians who scored a single themselves in response to restore their lead. Going into the second half, Scotland triggered their Power Play to get themselves back into the match. A slim chance for four was there for the Scots, but Jones left Jen with a very tricky double and when she didn’t get the roll on it, only two points went on the Scottish tally. Canada made the best of plenty of stones in play in End 6 to score two and when Scotland once more only managed a single in the seventh, they opted to shake hands with an end to spare.
