Scots to title

As they come up short in Italian job

a 2-3 record in qualifying. David Murdoch was the only other Scot to make the quarter-finalswherehe lost 5- 2 to Swiss Yannick Schwaller.

Meanwhile, Scotland suffered their first defeat of the world women’s championships in Beijing yesterday, a shock 7- 6 reverse against Italy.

But skip Eve Muirhead’s side, who beat the United States 9-8 in their opening

RESULTS ROUND-UP

game of the tournament on Saturday, bounced back in the evening session by beating Russia 10- 7. Canada, Czech Republic and Switzerland are the only countries boasting a 100% winning record after three games.

Speaking after beating Russia, Muirhead said:“We knewwhatwe had to do after dropping the game this morning and that was to come out sharp.

“We had a really solid firsthalf. They creptbackin the second half, but sometimes the first end is the worst end to score a 3 because you’ve got todefend a lead for so long.”

“Sometimes the first end is the worst end to score a 3”

TROPHY TIME: Grant Hardie, right, with team-mates, from left, David Reid, Duncan Menzies and Blair Fraser