The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Craik leads Scots to stirring fightback in round-robin opener
Former Forfar junior curler James Craik and his Scotland team began badly but finished strongly as they won their opening round-robin fixture at the World Junior Championships in Jonkoping, Sweden.
The 2020 bronze medallist and his colleagues Niall Ryder, Scott Hyslop and Angus Bryce made a nervy start when they conceded a steal of two to Jae Beom Lee’s Korean rink.
They got it back to allsquare with two ends remaining, and Craik then counted two stones at the ninth before clinching an 8-5 victory with a steal at the last.
Craik and his teammates are now looking forward to making their contribution to a season that has seen Scotland become European men’s and women’s champions in the same one for the first time.
“Taking inspiration from the Olympics and the Worlds has been quite key for us,” said Craik.
“Seeing how well
Scotland and Great Britain have done as a whole really gives us confidence, knowing that we’re part of the same programme as them and that it prepares the best in the world, so hopefully we can perform like that when we get on to the world stage.
“It’s been great to see the success for these teams.
“However, we are out here to make a statement for ourselves and hopefully we can do that by bringing home a medal for Scotland.”
Craik and company returned last night and thrashed Dan Casper’s US team 9-1.
Perth teenager Holly Wilkie-Milne was involved in an extraordinary women’s match as Fay Henderson’s Scotland team rallied from 5-0 down to beat Canada.
The Scots accumulated three points in steals to lead 6-5 and were never headed again. A tartan two at the seventh and a blanked end at the ninth secured an 8-7 win.