SCOTLAND MISS OUT ON PLAY-OFFS AT WORLD WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP 2023
It wasn’t to be for the Scotland squad of Rebecca Morrison, Gina Aitken, Sophie Sinclair, Sophie Jackson, and Jen Dodds at the World Women’s Curling Championship 2023 in Sandviken, Sweden. The team played well throughout the week and gave their opponents, including the tournament favourites, good runs for their money, but they missed out on margins and ended the tournament on a three in nine record after the round robin.
The event kicked off in perfect fashion for Scotland who powered to a comprehensive win in their opening fixture versus Germany. Next up were Denmark and although the European champions had the brighter start, a second half charge had Scotland trailing by only a single point and coming down with hammer in End 10. The Danes were on it though and secured a steal that snatched the win. Everything looked set for a Scottish bounce-back as the team completely outplayed Japan in their next game and were odds-on for victory over the pan continental champions. It was all fine until it wasn’t though: the Scots lost control of End 10 and Fujisawa Satsuki was left with an open hit for four that won Japan the encounter by a point.
In the next fixture, nothing could separate Scotland and Korea at the break and it was all to play for in the second half. However, the momentum swung towards Korea in the late stages and they brought a narrow advantage over the line. Canada were up next and the encounter started off in the most dramatic way. Kerri Einarson hit for a massive four points in End 1, but the Scots came right back at them with a fantastic hit and roll for four themselves. Things somewhat died down from there with only singles going on the board and Canada stretching out a slim advantage. Scotland needed to steal in the final end and although they took one off the Canadians, they lost out overall by a slender point. On-form Norway proved too much for Scotland with the eventual silver medallists dictating the game and taking a relatively comfortable win. Everything came down to the last stone in the subsequent fixture versus Italy. Scotland needed at least two in End 10, but Stefania Constantini left Rebecca a near impossible shot with last stone and only a single point went on the board.
The Scots finally returned to winning ways against United States. The scores were level going into the last end where Scotland managed a single steal to snatch victory. Next up, Scotland and Sweden traded scores for the first six ends before the hosts edged it in the late stages for the win. Scotland came out on the right side of the board in their subsequent fixture against New Zealand though. They took the advantage early and saw the game out, never giving the Kiwis a chance and bagging a comprehensive triumph. The Scots brought their A game versus undefeated title holders Switzerland and kept the game alive until the final stone. It was all square going into the last end, but there there once more was no stopping Alina Paetz who pulled off a tricky shot for one that earned the eventual gold medallists the win. One to go for Scotland who faced Turkiye to conclude the tournament. There wasn’t much in it from end to end, but Turkiye gradually gained an advantage and brought it over the line.
Relive #WWCC2023 chronologically. 
TURKIYE HAVE THE EDGE AS SCOTLAND FALL TO NINTH DEFEAT (TUR 10-7 SCO)
Scotland concluded their campaign in Sandviken with a 10-7 loss to Turkiye. There wasn’t much in it from end to end, but Dilsat Yildiz’ squad gradually gained an advantage and brought it over the line.
A magnificent LSD had Turkiye starting the game with hammer and they instantly made it count, scoring two and subsequently forcing Scotland to one. The sides went on to trade singles, but Turkiye made a major wave just before the break when they got a three on the board and extended the gap to four points. However, the Scots came out swinging at the restart and scored three themselves to keep the game within grasp. They got the force in End 7, but Turkiye managed to respond with a single steal and regain the momentum. Scotland scored two in the penultimate end, meaning they were down by a point and needed to steal in End 10. Unfazed though, Turkiye were never in doubt and bagged a deuce to win the game.
UNDEFEATED SWITZERLAND BEAT SCOTLAND ON LAST STONE (SUI 7-6 SCO)
A second half charge from Scotland did not quite come off as Silvana Tirinzoni’s title defenders from Switzerland scored one with the last stone to take the win.
Off to a fairly underwhelming start, the teams sat on one-all after three ends, but Switzerland dealt the first punch in End 4 with a big three points. Scotland were forced to take a single in response and trailed by two at the break. However, the Scots had the brighter second half, forcing Switzerland to singles and scoring deuces in response, and it was all square again with one end remaining. Scotland were just about lying shot with two stones to go and Rebecca Morrison used her’s to guard. However, there once more was no stopping Alina Paetz who navigated the port and tapped her own stone slightly to bag a decisive point.
SCOTLAND BOUNCE BACK WITH COMPREHENSIVE WIN OVER NEW ZEALAND (SCO 8-3 NZL)
It’s a third win on the board for Scotland who saw off New Zealand 8-3. The Scots built an advantage early and saw the game out, never giving Bridget Becker’s side a chance.
Despite starting without hammer, Scotland were first on the board and collected a couple of steals to lead 5-0 after four ends. New Zealand finally managed to score in the fifth, but the Scots were nevertheless in a comfortable position at the break. Having hammer for the first time at the restart, Scotland took two to stretch their lead and when the sides traded singles for the next two ends, the Kiwis decided to call it a day early.
TIGHT GAME ENDS IN LATE STAGES DEFEAT FOR SCOTS AGAINST HOSTS SWEDEN (SWE 9-6 SCO)
Scotland and Sweden traded scores for the first six ends, but Anna Hasselborg’s squad, who had been finding momentum in the last couple of games, edged it in the late stages for a 9-6 win.
A superior LSD gave Sweden hammer going into the game and the hosts got off to an ideal start, taking two. However, Scotland responded in the same fashion and equalised with a deuce themselves. The sides repeated that pattern for the next two ends before the Swedes took one in the fifth to lead at the break. However, Scotland weren’t outdone at this point and started the second half with a single to equalise. The pressure was on again though when Sweden got two on the board and this time, the Scots were forced to only take one in response. The gap grew with another deuce going Sweden’s way and eventually, Scotland conceded defeat without the final stones thrown.
SCOTS RETURN TO WINNING WAYS WITH LAST END STEAL AGAINST UNITED STATES (SCO 8-7 USA)
Scotland finally recorded their second win in a tense encounter with United States. The scores were level going into End 10 and the Scots managed to steal one off Tabitha Peterson’s squad for victory.
Proceedings got off to a nightmare start for Scotland who conceded a three-points steal to United States in the opening end. Although they managed to score deuces with hammer from there onwards, the Scots were still trailing by two at the break and had their work cut out for them in the second half. However, the momentum gradually started to shift at the restart. The teams initially traded singles, but when Scotland got two on the board in End 8, the scores were suddenly tied. United States got the blank in the ninth and, coming down with hammer, everything seemed to be going in their favour. Cool, calm, and collected though, Scotland played a magnificent end, stealing not only a point but also the win.
LAST STONE DECIDES CAGEY GAME V ITALY AGAINST SCOTLAND (ITA 7-6 SCO)
It all came down to the final stone, but Scotland continue to chase the momentum as a cagey encounter ended 7-6 in Italy’s favour. It was all square after six ends, but Stefania Constantini’s side found the edge in the late stages.
Scotland went into the game with a line-up change, Jen Dodds coming in for Gina Aitken at third and Sophie Jackson taking up vice-skipping duties. Italy had the brighter start with a three in End 2 and took the lead early. It took the Scots some ends to find their rhythm, but they eventually fought back with a two in End 5 and a single steal in 6 that levelled the scores. Italy got a deuce on the board and the Scots could only respond with a single. However, hope was still alive when they got the force in the ninth and went into the last end two down but with hammer. The required two points were on offer for most of the end, but Constantini left Rebecca Morrison a near impossible shot with last stone and only a single point went on the board.
ON-FORM NORWAY PROVE TO STRONG FOR STRUGGLING SCOTS (NOR 9-6 SCO)
It’s a fifth consecutive defeat for Scotland who were left without a chance against on-form Norway. Marianne Roervik’s squad dictated the game from the get-go and bagged a 9-6 win.
Norway opened the scoring with a two in the first end and instantly followed it up with a single steal to stake their claim on proceedings. Scotland finally got on the board in the third end, but their single did little to cut the deficit. The sides traded equal scores for four ends, meaning the gap stayed on two points in Norwegian favour. Norway dealt a big punch with three in End 8 and although Scotland answered with two, they were still facing an uphill battle with one end to go. Eventually, the last rocks did not have to be thrown for the Scots to admit defeat.
GREAT FORM CONTINUES BUT SO DOES LOSING STREAK WITH DEFEAT TO CANADA (CAN 9-8 SCO)
Scotland once more played a great game but couldn’t snatch the win, Canada coming out 9-8 victors on this occasion. Kerri Einarson’s side gradually stretched out a slim advantage and a late charge from the Scots couldn’t stop them.
The encounter kicked off in spectacular fashion with Canada taking four in the opening end, already looking to have a hold of the game, but Scotland retaliated straight away with a fantastic hit and roll for four themselves. It was all square again and the teams went on to trade singles, just one point in Canada’s favour separating them at the break. The momentum somewhat tipped towards the Canadians who took singles in the next three ends to extend their lead. However, Scotland fought back and got a deuce on the board that cut their deficit down to two with one end to go. The Scots needed a steal and although they did manage to take one off Canada, it wasn’t enough to swing the result.
CAGEY GAME VERSUS KOREA ENDS IN DEFEAT FOR SCOTLAND (KOR 6-4 SCO)
A cagey game against Korea swung away from Scotland in the last couple of ends, seeing them lose out 6-4 and record their third consecutive defeat.
Nothing could separate the sides at the break, sitting on two-all after a low scoring first half. Scotland were first to strike at the restart with a single, but Ha Seungyoun’s squad responded with a deuce to take the lead. From there, the momentum started to swing in Korea’s favour. They stole singles in the next two ends, extending their lead to three points with one end to go. Scotland gave it their all but could only bag a single in End 10 and were unable to close the gap.
FRUSTRATION FOR SCOTLAND AS THEY OUTPLAY BUT LOSE OUT TO JAPAN (JPN 9-8 SCO)
It was all fine until it wasn’t for Scotland who fell to a frustrating 9-8 defeat to pan continental champions Japan. The Scots dictated the majority of the game but lost control of a dramatic 10th end.
Scotland were coming out swinging, not only getting forces off Japan but also scoring and stealing deuces themselves. They kept stretching out a lead and come half-time, they were up 6-2 already. Fujisawa Satsuki’s side finally got their first multiscore on the board in End 7 and followed it up with a single steal to cut the gap down to two. Scotland were looking for the blank in End 9 but missed it with their hit not rolling far enough. Still, with a three-points advantage, they looked the firm favourites. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong for the Scots in End 10 though, leaving Fujisawa an open hit for four that decided the game.
SCOTLAND HOLD THEIR OWN, BUT DENMARK HAVE THE EDGE (DEN 9-7 SCO)
Scotland narrowly missed out 9-7 in their fixture against European champions Denmark who secured the win with a steal in the last end.
Madeleine Dupont’s Danish side had the far brighter start to the game and were up by four points after two ends. However, the Scots slowly but surely found their rhythm and cut their deficit down to one by the break. The teams traded singles at the restart, but Scotland suddenly grabbed the momentum with a single steal in End 8 that not only equalised, but also, theoretically gave them hammer for the 10th. Indeed, Scotland got the force in End 9 and were coming down trailing by a point but with last stone advantage. It were Denmark though who nailed the final stones and with that stole a point and the win.
DREAM START FOR SCOTLAND WHO STORM TO WIN OVER GERMANY (SCO 12-5 GER)
Scotland kicked their #WWCC2023 campaign off in style by taking a comprehensive 12-5 win over Daniela Jentsch’s experienced Germany side.
Rebecca Morrison’s squad were on top of the game from the get-go, taking points in the first three ends. Germany got a big three on the board in the fourth, but nevertheless, Scotland led by a comfortable margin at the break. The gap remained the same after eight ends with nothing between the teams’ scores, but the Scots killed the game off in End 9 when they stole four and all that was left to do was shake hands.
