Friday, 8th of April 2022

SCOTLAND’S #WMCC2022 CAMPAIGN ENDS IN QUALIFICATION PLAY-OFF

Team Scotland (Ross Paterson, Kyle Waddell, Duncan Menzies, Craig Waddell, Euan Kyle) went on a rollercoaster ride through all the emotions a World Men’s Curling Championship has to offer. A partially shaky, partially magnificent round robin came to a happy ending when the Scots secured fourth place and a spot in the play-offs. However, their campaign ended in the qualification games when a spirited comeback against United States did not quite come off.

Scotland kicked their stint at the Orleans Arena, Las Vegas off in ideal fashion. A single point in the last end secured a win over Italy, but things would get trickier from there. Korea dealt Scotland their first loss with a frustrating last end steal before a young Norwegian side brought their A game and edged the win. However, with their backs up against the wall, the Scots went on a remarkable run. Starting with a comprehensive victory over Denmark, they followed on with triumphs over Germany, United States, and Finland before their winning streak culminated in a spectacular 6-0 shut out over Czech Republic.

Unfortunately, high-flying Scotland were brought back to the ground when Netherlands prevailed in a tight game. With Sweden and Canada up next, the Scots faced a tough challenge and defeats to both title favourites rendered their remaining fixture against Switzerland a must win. An absolute nail-biter, the game was tense until the end, but Scotland took the win and thereby booked a play-off spot. Up against a confident US team in the qualification game, Scotland took some moments to settle into proceedings. However, once in the swing of things, the Scots started a spirited comeback that tightened the encounter. Eventually though, Korey Dropkin’s team saw the game out and ended Scotland’s Worlds campaign.

Relive Scotland’s #WMCC2022 by fixtures. 🔽

SCOTTISH CAMPAIGN ENDS IN QUALIFICATION GAMES WITH LOSS TO TEAM USA (USA 6 – 4 SCO)

Team Scotland fought hard but suffered a 6-4 defeat to United States in the qualification game, bringing their Worlds campaign to an end. The Scots followed a shaky start up with a spirited comeback, but Korey Dropkin’s side saw the game out.

An unfortunate start to the encounter saw Scotland down by two after one end, courtesy of a steal by Team USA. The Scots only managed to respond with a single and things started to look even bleaker when United States took a point each in the next three ends. With their backs up against the wall, Scotland showed a spirited second half. After blanking End 6, they scored one and, crucially, set up single steals in the two ends that followed, taking the standings to 5-4 with one end to go. The Scots played a magnificent final end, but it wasn’t enough to stop United States from scoring a decisive point.

NAIL BITING STUFF VS SWITZERLAND AS SCOTLAND BAG PLAY-OFF SPOT (SCO 9 – 7 SUI)

Team Scotland held off a late comeback from Yannick Schwaller’s Switzerland side and secured a 9-7 victory. The win elevated the Scots to fourth in the table standings and booked a play-off spot.

Scotland had a dream start, scoring two in the opening end and following it up with three consecutive single steals. It wasn’t until End 5 that Switzerland got on the board, although their singular point did not do much to cut down the gap. Scotland were back scoring at the restart, although they only managed to take a single. Switzerland’s comeback started in End 7 with a big three that the Scots could only answer with a two. Proceedings got seriously tense when another three-points score in the ninth end reduced the Scottish lead to only a point. Coming down with hammer, Scotland kept their nerve and secured a vital point.

STRONG PERFORMANCE BUT EVENTUAL LOSS AGAINST CANADA (CAN 8 – 6 SCO)

Team Scotland held their own against Canada, but Brad Gushue’s side ultimately had the edge. The scores were level after nine ends played and a deuce in the final sealed an 8-6 result.

Scotland started the game with hammer, but it was Canada who went on the board with a single steal. Retaliating immediately, the Scots scored a deuce that briefly put them ahead. However, the lead was short-lived when Canada copied the feat and followed it up with another one-point steal. Trading singles, Scotland neither managed to reduce their deficit nor did Canada extend their lead. The Scottish side were back in business in End 9 when they added a two to their tally and evened the score line with one end to go. A tense final end culminated with Scotland missing the line on their final throw, meaning Canada took a deuce that decided the encounter.

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS SWEDEN PROVE TOO TOUGH TO CRACK FOR SCOTLAND (SWE 8 – 2 SCO)

Team Scotland had nothing to offer against Niklas Edin’s Sweden who controlled the game from the get-go, the final score reading 8-2. Sitting on four losses, Scotland can ill afford another defeat to keep their play-off ambitions alive.

Sweden opened the scoring with a single and doubled up with a one-point steal. Scotland could only respond with a single and a carbon copy of the first two ends meant the Swedes led by four points to one at the break. The first multi-points went on the board in End 6 as Sweden stole two to stretch out their advantage. Scotland were again limited to a single and were prompted to concede an end later when another deuce for Sweden put the game out of sight.

TOUGH DEFEAT TO NETHERLANDS HAS SCOTLAND IN ZUGZWANG (NED 5 – 4 SCO)

A frustrating 5-4 defeat to Netherlands brought Scotland to three losses in total with three tough round robin games remaining. The Scots had an early advantage, but Wouter Goesgen’s side edged their way back in in the second half.

Scotland were first on the board, scoring one with hammer, and immediately doubled up with a single steal. Netherlands responded with a one themselves, but the Scots copied the feat to keep their advantage and a blank fifth end meant they led by two at the break. The game was wide open again when Netherlands levelled the scores with a deuce and put on the pressure. Scotland blanked End 7 to maintain hammer but only managed a single straight after. The Dutch team had the same idea and blanked to have hammer in the final end. They played the strategy to its full advantage, scoring two that secured the win.

NO HAMMER, NO PROBLEM AS SCOTLAND STEAL WIN OVER CZECH REPUBLIC (SCO 6 – 0 CZE)

Scotland played an overall accuracy of 93 per cent and shut out Lukas Klima’s Czech Republic to secure a fifth consecutive win. Although the Scots were without hammer the entire game, several steals added up to a 6-0 result.

Czech Republic went into the encounter with last stone advantage and opted for a blank in the opening end. The first stolen point went on Scotland’s tally straight after and the game continued in a similar fashion. Another blank was followed by another single steal before two successive blanks kept the scores low. The Scots started to stretch out an advantage from End 7, securing yet another two single steals. They put the game out of sight with a two-points steal in the ninth end that prompted Czech Republic to concede at 6-0. Over the course of the game, all four Scotland players recorded accuracy stats of 90 per cent or higher, rounding out a confidence-boosting performance.

SCOTTISH WINNING RUN CONTINUES WITH VICTORY OVER FINLAND (SCO 10 – 5 FIN)

The winning streak is running for Team Scotland who secured a comprehensive 10-5 victory over Kalle Kiiskinen’s Finland. The Scots took the lead early and never looked back as they navigated towards their fifth win of the week.

An exceptional 16.3 LSD earned Scotland hammer and they used their advantage to open the scoring with a deuce. Unfazed, Finland copied the feat and the standings were level again. Although the Scots only managed a single in End 3, a subsequent three-points steal gave them a comprehensive lead. When Finland could only respond with a single, the game was firmly in Scottish favour at the break. The Finns opened the second half with a single steal, but it was all Scotland from there. Outscoring their opponents, Team Scotland bagged a 10-5 win after nine ends.

SHARPSHOOTING SCOTLAND BAG VICTORY OVER HOSTS UNITED STATES (SCO 9 – 7 USA)

Team Scotland brought their A game against event hosts United States and secured a sensational 9-7 win. The tight encounter could have gone either way for the best part, but the Scots gradually stretched out an advantage over Korey Dropkin’s side in the second half.

Scotland were first on the board with a single in the first end and followed it up with a one-point steal for an early advantage. United States swiftly responded with a deuce to level the scores, but the Scottish lead was back intact when the Scots secured two points themselves in End 4. The momentum swung slightly when a three in End 5 put Team USA in front, leading by one at halftime. Scotland stayed composed and while both sides scored with hammer in the second half, they outnumbered their opponents. Having gradually stretched out an advantage, a single in the final end was enough to secure a 9-7 win.

TENSE GAME AGAINST GERMANY ENDS WITH WIN FOR SCOTLAND (SCO 6 – 4 GER)

Scotland v Germany were the last game to finish in Session 8 as a tense 10 ends culminated in a 6-4 win for Scotland. Sixten Totzek’s side led for most of the game, but a fine finish from the Scots earned victory.

Starting the game with hammer, Germany were first on the board. They followed a single score up with a one-point steal for an early advantage and when Scotland could only respond with a single themselves, another point in End 5 was enough to see the Germans lead by three points to one at the break. After a blank sixth end, Scotland finally drew level with successive ones in End 7 and 8. However, the singles trading continued and Germany were back in front with one end remaining. Coming down with hammer, the Scots used the advantage beautifully to get three points, the first multi-score of the encounter, on the board and clinch victory.

SCOTLAND RETURN TO WINNING WAYS WITH VICTORY OVER DENMARK (SCO 7 – 3 DEN)

Team Scotland bounced back and returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 7-3 victory over Denmark. The Danes, skipped by Tobias Thune with Mikkel Krause at second, were a match for Scotland for the best part of the game, but the Scots had the edge in the late stages.

Scotland took an early lead, courtesy of an End 4 deuce, that had them top by two points at halftime. Denmark bounced back immediately with a two-points score in the sixth end that levelled the standings. However, it would be all Scotland from there onwards. The Scots regained the lead with a single and stretched out their advantage, holding Denmark to a blank and subsequently stealing one in End 9. Going into the final end up against hammer but with the points lead, Scotland played cleanly and stole two to decide the encounter.

SECOND DEFEAT FOR SCOTLAND AS NORWAY HAVE THE EDGE (NOR 7 – 4 SCO)

Team Scotland recorded a second successive Worlds defeat, losing out to a young Norwegian side. Magnus Ramsfjell’s squad outplayed the Scots on percentages and edged out a 7-4 win in the second half.

An evenly-matched opening half saw the teams sit level on three points each at the break. Norway gradually stretch out an advantage at the restart, scoring a single and following it up with a one-point steal. When Scotland could only respond with a one, the sharpshooting Norwegians dealt the deathblow in End 9. A two-points score took the standings to 7-4 at which point the Scots conceded without the final end played.

LAST END STEAL PROVES FATAL FOR SCOTLAND AS KOREA TAKE THE WIN (KOR 9 – 6 SCO)

Team Scotland fell to a frustrating 9-6 defeat at the hands of Korea. A two-points steal for Kim Soo-Hyuk’s side made the difference in what had otherwise been an evenly-matched encounter.

There was nothing much to separate the sides in the first half; Scotland answered Korea’s call, both scoring deuces in the opening ends, and although they could only respond with a single to another two points from Korea, they didn’t trail by more than a point at the break. The Scots corrected this immediately, stealing in End 6 to level the scores. Korea only managed a one in response and a subsequent deuce for Scotland saw them lead after eight ends. The Koreans got back in front with a two, but Scotland were coming down with hammer in the final end. Unfortunately, a clean end from Korea resulted in a steal that decided the game against Scottish favour.

TIGHT GAME BUT OPENING WIN FOR SCOTLAND (SCO 5 – 4 ITA)

Team Scotland opened their Worlds campaign with a narrow 5-4 victory over Joel Retornaz’ Italy. A single point in the tenth end proved decisive and got the Scots off to a winning start.

A magnificent 17.8 LSD saw Scotland start the game with hammer and they opened the scoring with a one. Subsequent single steals stretched out a three-points advantage, but the game was wide open again when Italy got a two on the board just before the break. Going into the second half, Scotland only managed a single and when Italy copied the feat and followed it up with a steal, the scores were suddenly even. The Scots blanked End 9 to maintain hammer for the 10th, a strategy that paid off when a single point won them the game.