Friday, 25th of November 2022

BRILLIANT BRONZE FOR SCOTLAND AT EUROPEAN WOMEN’S CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP 2022

Congratulations to Rebecca Morrison, Gina Aitken, Sophie Sinclair, Sophie Jackson, and Hailey Duff who clinched bronze for Scotland at the European Women’s Curling Championship 2022. The Scots secured a play-off spot on the last day of round robin action and went on to bag the medal in a great game against Italy.

Scotland started the tournament off well with wins over Turkiye and Latvia, but defeats against Italy and Denmark followed suit. The Scots bounced back in style though and left hosts Sweden stunned with an emphatic win. Flying high, they were brought back to the ground by Germany and with Switzerland up next, there was no way to retaliate. Going into the final round robin session, Scotland knew they needed a win and results elsewhere to go their way to progress to the play-offs. They edged a fiercely contested win over Norway and with other draws in their favour, on to the play-offs they went.

Up against eventual champions Denmark in the semi-final, Scotland played a brave game, but the Danes had too much to offer. The Scots conceded after the minimum amount of ends played to conserve energy for their upcoming bronze medal game against Italy. An incredibly tight start had the teams level at the break, but it was all Scotland in the second half. Collecting multiple steals, the Scots secured the win and the medals.

Relive Scotland’s #ECC2022 game by game.

BRILLIANT BRONZE FOR SCOTLAND FOLLOWING WIN OVER ITALY (SCO 9-5 ITA)

It’s brilliant bronze for Scotland who got their revenge over Stefania Constantini’s Italy and secured a great 9-5 win. Nothing could separate the sides at the break after a cagey start to the game, but the Scots ran away with it in the second half and bagged themselves the medals.

Scotland got off to a flyer, playing an immaculate set-up game that left Constantini drawing against three and needing the tee to score. When her stone slipped way too deep, three stolen points and the momentum went to the Scots. However, Italy swiftly fought back and served their skip and open hit for two that cut the gap. In the third end it was the Italians turn to set up a difficult draw. Although Rebecca Morrison made a decent enough shot for one, it slightly overcurled and spun just too far, missing out on two points by millimetres. Scotland kept a slight advantage when they got the force in End 4, however, Italy returned the favour and set up the force in the fifth. Rebecca’s draw was heavy though and they gave away a single steal that meant it was all square at the break.

The restart gave Scotland a chance to bounce back and Rebecca made no mistake to draw the four foot for two. A back an forth seventh end could have gone either way, but eventually, Constantini’s shot jammed when she attempted a tricky double and another two points went on the Scottish counter. Once more, the Scots challenged Constantini to a near impossible shot and her controlled weight tap slipped too deep, gifting Scotland a single and a five-points lead with two ends remaining. The Scots hammered the final nails in the coffin of a deflated looking Italy side, forcing in End 9. Although Constantini made the take-out for one, the game was over and handshakes were exchanged.

(Images: WCF/Ansis Ventins, Celine Stucki)

SEMI-FINAL DEFEAT TO DENMARK HAS SCOTLAND GOING FOR BRONZE (DEN 11-3 SCO)

On-form Denmark had too much for Scotland in the semi-final and took a commanding 11-3 win. Madeleine Dupont’s side were running away with the game from the get-go and the Scots conceded after the minimum amount of ends to save energy for their bronze medal fixture against Italy.

The encounter got off to a fairly balanced start, Dupont drawing for one before an end later, Rebecca Morrison made the raise to score a single and level again. However, Denmark firmly took control from there. Dupont needed a nibble of the four foot for three and the skip made the draw easily. There was no consolation for Scotland as Rebecca could not quite make a tricky take-out and gave away a steal of two. Once more, the Danes asked the tough questions in End 5, forcing Rebecca to draw against three and when her shot feathered off the guard, a massive steal went Denmark’s way. With an eight-points gap at the break, the game was already slipping away from the Scots.

Fighting the small fights at the restart, Scotland got on the board with a neat take-out for one. They continued to show a decent performance in End 7 with Rebecca making a nice raise that limited Dupont to a difficult draw for two. Despite scoring in the eighth end with a straightforward hit for one, the Scots knew the battle was over and conceded.

VICTORY OVER NORWAY SENDS SCOTLAND THROUGH TO SEMI-FINALS (SCO 8-6 NOR)

Scotland ended the round robin with a fiercely contested 8-6 win over Norway and secured themselves a place in the semi-finals. Marianne Roervik’s team held a slight advantage at the break, but it was the Scotland show in the second half.

Norway took the advantage in the first end when fourth Kristin Skaslien made the take-out and avoided jamming on the back red to take two. Scotland returned the favour when Rebecca Morrison got the hit for two and equalised. History repeated itself with Skaslien hitting for two, but this time, the Scots didn’t follow suit. Blanking the fourth, Scotland needed to retaliate in the fifth, but Rebecca’s draw overcurled ever so slightly and gave away a single steal. Trailing by three points, the Scots had their work cut out for them in the second half, but it was still all to play for.

A neat sixth end from Norway forced Scotland to draw for one, but the momentum started to shift just one end later. Four stones, two from each team, where on or biting the button with one shot to go, challenging Skaslien to a precise draw. However, her attempt didn’t get the right curl on it and rather than a score, it was a steal of one. The Norwegians made the best out of a bad situation in End 8 when Scotland had at least the force in the bag and only didn’t steal due to a fantastic raise from Skaslien. The pendulum firmly swung towards Scots’ corner in the ninth end. Faced with a difficult situation, Rebecca played an incredible shot, running the corner guard back at an angle for a double raise take-out to score three. Scotland had the lead for the first time, albeit by one point only, and it all came down to a tense finish. Both teams played a neat final end, culminating in Rebecca making a nice draw freeze to take away the chance for two. The best Norway could hope for was to score one and take the game to an extra end, but Skaslien’s draw came up shy and a single steal for the Scots decided the encounter.

SCOTLAND BACK ON WINNING WAYS WITH COMPREHENSIVE TRIUMPH OVER HUNGARY (SCO 10-1 HUN)

It’s back on winning ways for Scotland who made short shrift of their encounter with Hungary. The Scots recorded multiple ends and stole numerous times to comprehensively see off Csilla Halasz’ side by 10 points to one.

Although Hungary went into the game with hammer, Scotland had the upper hand from the get-go. A dominant build-up had the Scots lying four with two stones to go and Rebecca Morrison guarded to make a score difficult. Hungarian fourth Bernadett Biro attempted the draw for one but feathered off the guard and gave away a massive steal. Scotland played an immaculate second end to get the force at least and when Biro’s draw slipped deep, they even got the single steal. Hungary finally got on the board in the third end, courtesy of an open hit. However, Biro lost the shooter and only got the one point, doing little to cut the deficit.

Having hammer for the first time,  Scotland used the advantage for a multiple end. Rebecca was served an open draw for three and made no mistake to stretch the gap to seven points. Proceedings kept going in Scottish favour who made the hit and stick to lie two and at least force. History repeated itself and it even was the single steal when Biro couldn’t make the take-out stick and rolled too far. Firmly in cruise control, Scotland gave alternate Hailey Duff a run after the break, but her on-ice appearance wouldn’t last too long. A neat hit and roll behind cover forced Biro to try and draw four for a point, but her shot was shy and gifted the Scots a steal that terminated the game.

NO CHANCE FOR SCOTLAND AS FAVOURITES SWITZERLAND STORM TO VICTORY (SUI 9-3 SCO)

Reigning world champions and tournament favourites Switzerland left Scotland without a chance in a 9-3 win. Silvana Tirinzoni’s side took the lead from the get-go and, despite decent accuracy stats from the Scots, kept the game in their favour with multiple steals.

For the best part, the first end was fairly in check, but dynamics changed with the final two stones. Making the penultimate shot, Rebecca Morrison didn’t get the roll behind the guard and left an open hit for two for Swiss fourth Alina Paetz. In contrast, Paetz placed a perfect draw to make scoring seriously tricky for Scotland and when the raise didn’t come off for Rebecca, a stolen point went Switzerland’s way. The Scots finally got on the board in End 3 with a draw for one and did a good job to forcing Switzerland in the next one. However, the Swiss retaliated straight away and stole a single, making it a four-points gap at the break.

The Swiss were on the steal again at the restart and extended their advantage by a point. Following suit though was the first multiple end for Scotland. It could have been three were it not for a neat double under pressure from Paetz, leaving Rebecca to draw the button for two. If there had ever been a way back in for Scotland, Switzerland were quick to eliminate it. Paetz was served an open draw for three and converted to put the game to bed.

EXPERIENCED GERMANY SIDE HAS TOO MUCH FOR SCOTLAND (GER 9-3 SCO)

It wasn’t to be for Scotland in Session 6 when they lost out 9-3 to Daniela Jentsch’s Germany team. Nothing much separated the sides, but Germany held control of the encounter with a number of multiple ends.

The opening stages of the game turned out to foreshadow the rest of the encounter. Although Scotland played a neat first end and stole one, their lead was short lived and swiftly turned into an advantage for Germany when Jentsch converted an open draw for two. The Scots subsequently got the blank, but the first major blow followed suit. Forced for one, Rebecca Morrison’s stone went wide and gave a two-points steal away, widening the gap to three. An opportunity was there for Scotland in the End 5, but once more the ice was not on their side. Up against one, Rebecca needed to hit and stick to score two, but she lost the shooter and only one point went on the board.

Germany kept their run going at the restart with Jentsch making the raise for another deuce. Scotland were in desperate need for something special, but the rings were dominated by German stones in End 7 and left them no easy way to score. Eventually, Rebecca attempted a tricky promotion for a possible multiscore, but the shot did not quite come off and it was only a single again. The Scots were facing an increasingly big mountain to climb while Germany kept playing away and earned themselves a deuce in a neat eighth end. Scotland soldiered on, but it was over and out after End 9 when the Germans stole a point and put the game out of reach.

SCOTLAND BOUNCE BACK AND STUN HOSTS SWEDEN WITH EMPHATIC WIN (SCO 7-5 SWE)

Scotland bounced back in style and left hosts Sweden stunned by taking a great 7-5 win. There was nothing much in it for the best part of the encounter, but two consecutive steals decided proceedings in the Scots’ favour.

Anna Hasselborg’s Sweden team played the first end to their liking and opted for the blank, looking for hammer in the even ends. However, their plan would swiftly backfire. Scotland played an excellent second end, leaving Hasselborg facing a neat line-up of three Scottish counters. The Swedish skip could only pick off the top one and two stolen points went the Scots’ way. Sweden went for the blank again in the third end before finally getting on the board. A draw for three was there, but Hasselborg’s shot was heavy, drifting through and only bagging two points to equalise. Scotland had hammer for the first time, but the Swedes got the force. Rebecca Morrison was served an open hit against two and executed it effortlessly to take one and lead at the break.

The Swedes came out swinging at the restart and set up a draw for three for Hasselborg. The skip executed and put her side in a brief lead that was instantly taken away by a neat seventh end from Scotland that left Rebecca with an open draw for two. Things were heating up and End 8 was a first indicator of the pendulum swinging towards the Scots. Drawing against two, Hasselborg needed the four foot but ended up shy, giving away a single steal. Scotland subsequently stole another one to go into the final end with the momentum and a two-points advantage. A tense fight culminated when Hasselborg’s raise attempt with her penultimate stone overcurled and rather than making the take-out, she pushed her own stone all the way through. All Rebecca had to do was to execute the open hit without jamming to take the scoring opportunities away from Sweden and bag the win.

DEFEAT BUT STRONG PERFORMACE FOR SCOTLAND AGAINST UNBEATEN DENMARK (DEN 11-6 SCO)

The final result would not go in Scotland’s favour, but there were plenty of positives to take from their 11-6 defeat to Denmark. Rebecca Morrison’s squad held their own against the unbeaten Danes with Madeleine Dupont’s side only edging it in the final two ends to take the win.

Denmark carried their exceptional form into the game and got off to a confident start. Dupont made a raise for two to take the advantaged and the Danes maintained it by subsequently getting the force off Scotland. Denmark opted for a blank in End 3 but were swiftly back in full force, adding two to their tally with a draw on back four. However, the Scots struck in the fifth and signalled that their opponents would not have it all their own way. Already lying one, Morrison made the hit and stick to score three and level at the break.

Scotland claimed the lead at the restart when Dupont failed to lift a double and a single steal went on the Scottish board. Denmark retaliated and got back in front with a deuce, but Rebecca subsequently made the draw for one and it was all square again after eight ends. The Danes played End 9 to perfection and served their skip a hit for three that gave them the biggest advantage yet. Not all was lost for Scotland with one end to go but the stones would not fall in their favour. Rebecca faced a double to equalise or potentially even win with the last shot, but a miss meant that, instead, two stolen points and the victory went Denmark’s way.

STEALS COST SCOTS DEARLY IN TOUGH DEFEAT TO ITALY (ITA 10-4 SCO)

Scotland fell to their first Europeans defeat at the hands of Stefania Constantini’s Italy team. There wasn’t much to separate the teams for the better part of play, but Constantini prevailed in the battle of the skips and secured a number of steals that won her side the encounter 10-4.

Despite a deuce on the board, the first end foreshadowed the tale of lost chances the game would become for Scotland. Challenged with a draw for four, Rebecca Morrison’s shot was shy and only bagged the two points. Italy swiftly equalised in End 2 and looked all set for the force in the third with neat set-up work. However, drawing against three, Rebecca again came up short with the only good news being that her stone outcounted one and Italy only stole two points. A blank was followed by great Scottish build-up in End 5 and the skip made the take-out for two. It was all square again and everything looked back in order at half-time.

However, the Italians came out swinging at the restart. Things were pointing towards a force in End 6, but Constantini pulled off a tricky draw for two and tipped the momentum in her side’s favour. There wasn’t much in it for the better parts of the following ends, but Italy kept finding an edge towards the final shots. They kept stealing and tightened the screw until finally dealing the fatal punch in End 9. Rebecca needed the hit and stick to score but instead got the roll and the roll too far, meaning another steal went Italy’s way and ended the game prematurely.

SCOTLAND STAY ON WINNING WAYS WITH ASSURED DISPLAY AGAINST LATVIA (SCO 7-4 LAT)

Scotland secured their second win in as many games with an assured 7-4 performance against Latvia. Rebecca Morrison’s squad built an advantage early and controlled the game from there, leaving the team around Santa Blumberga-Berzina no way back in.

Despite an average start with a single score in the opening end, the Scots swiftly took hold of the encounter. They stole a deuce and maintained a good advantage when they held Latvia to one in End 3. Another two points went on Scotland’s counter and once more, the Latvians could only respond with a single. The standings looked well in Scottish favour already at the break on five points to two.

Scotland were first to score at the restart and added one to their tally. The teams traded singles and with one end remaining, the Scots held the upper hand with the gap standing on three points. Scotland controlled the late stages of the encounter, playing neat curling and offering their opponents no way in. When Rebecca cleared with her penultimate stone and eliminated Latvia’s chances, the game culminated in a premature finish.

SECOND HALF CHARGE EARNS SCOTLAND OPENING WIN OVER TURKIYE (SCO 9-6 TUR)

A spirited second half performance earned Scotland victory over Turkiye in their first game of the tournament. Dilsat Yildiz’ team led for a substantial part of the encounter, but the Scots fought their way back to a 9-6 win.

Scotland got off to a far from ideal start with Turkiye stealing one in the opening end. However, they swiftly retaliated and briefly took the lead with a deuce. The pendulum started to swing in Turkish favour in End 3 when Yildiz secured three with her last stone. They followed it up with a single steal and although the Scots answered with a deuce, Turkey held the advantage at the break.

Turkey were first on the board at the restart with a single going their way. From End 7 onwards though it was all Scotland. Rebecca Morrison’s squad equalised with a deuce and went on to steal a point and the lead in the eighth end. The momentum was with the Scots for good when they stole two to stretch the gap to three points with one end remaining. It became evident soon that Turkiye would not get the points they needed and handshakes were exchanged without the final stones being played.

 

TEAM SCOTLAND AT THE EUROPEAN WOMEN’S CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP 2022

The team of Rebecca Morrison, Gina Aitken, Sophie Sinclair, Sophie Jackson, and Hailey Duff as alternate will be flying the Saltire in Oestersund, Sweden. They go into their first Europeans and will be keen to retaliate from their world championship campaign earlier this year which was cut short by a number of covid infections. Team Morrison embarked on an extensive Canada tour to kick off their season. They triumphed in the Alberta Curling Series event in Leduc, setting them in good stead for this winter.

Home favourites Sweden are set for an attempt to reclaim the trophy this year. Anna Hasselborg’s team claimed the title at two of the last three Europeans, the exception being last season when Eve Muirhead’s squad got the better of them. However, they will be without their usual third, Sara McManus, who is sidelined by pregnancy. Sofia Mabergs switches from lead to third while Johanna Heldin comes in as lead and vice-skip. Agnes Knochenhauer remains at second.

On paper, their biggest opponents will be new-look Switzerland. Two retirements forced a reshuffle to the reigning world champions. While skip Silvana Tirinzoni remains at third and Alina Paetz continues to throw last stones, the front end is an entirely new one. Former alternate Carole Howald comes in at second while Briar Schwaller-Huerlimann joins the team as lead.

Daniela Jentsch’s Germany rink frequently peaks at the Europeans and have became regular bronze medalists. Going into her ninth Europeans, the skip is one of the most experienced players in the field. Meanwhile, the Denmark team around Madeleine Dupont surprised many with an excellent performance at the world championships earlier this year. They will be keen to carry that form to Oestersund.

Elsewhere, Stefania Constantini’s young Italy team have been on the up in recent competitions. With their skip now an Olympic champion, albeit in mixed doubles, they’ll take drive into the championship. Similarly, Turkiye’s team led by Dilsat Yildiz have impressed with fearless and spectacular play in the past. Will this year be their final breakthrough?

Norway, Latvia, and Hungary join the field, having been promoted from the B-division.

SCOTLAND’S ROUND ROBIN GAMES

18.11.2022, 7pm v Turkiye

19.11.2022, 1pm v Latvia

20.11.2022, 8am v Italy

20.11.2022, 6pm v Denmark

21.11.2022, 11am v Sweden

21.11.2022, 7pm v Germany

22.11.2022, 1pm v Switzerland

23.11.2022, 8am v Hungary

23.11.2022, 6pm v Norway