‘Clinical’ win for Mouat

THE SCOTTISH men had a straightforward 9-2 win over Norway in yesterday’s play at the World Junior Curling Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, but the Scottish women suffered their first loss of the roundrobin programme, going down 5-7 to Russia.

Bruce Mouat’s men had a good start, stealing four points when Norway put their final stone of the end through the house.

They eventually finished the game off with a further steal of three.

A fter this fourth win, Mouat said, “That was a good win, clinical — that’s the word to describe it.

“If we keep playing this way we’ll get to the playoffs at least.”

By contrast, the Scots found themselves in trouble in the sixth end of their game against Russia.

They were facing three Russian counters when skip Gina A itken came to play her last stone, but her damage limitation tactic went wrong and the Russians were handed a straightforward hit and stay for three and a 5-2 lead on the way to a 7-5 win. Results: Men, Session 5: Estonia 1 Russia 8, Switzerland 6, USA 5, Scotland 9 Norway 2, Sweden 8 Norway 4, Sweden 8 Korea 4, Canada 5 Italy 1.

Standings: Switzerland won5, lost0; Canada, Scotland, Sweden 4-1; Russia 3-2; Korea 2-3; Estonia, Italy, USA 1-4; Norway 0-5.

Women, Session 5: USA 9 Czech Rep 3, Korea 4 Sweden 7, Switzerland 6 Estonia 4, Canada 6 England2, Scotland5Russia7.

Standings: Canada5-0; Scotland, Switzerland 4-1; Sweden 3- 2; England, Korea, Russia, USA 2-3; Estonia 1-4; Czech Rep 0-5.

Bruce Mouat.