Scots curlers claim world bronze

Eve Muirhead’s Scottish women beat Sweden 6-4 to claim bronze in the world curling championship in Beijing. The all-conquering Canadians beat Russia 8-3 in the final to complete a week-long undefeated campaign. Muirhead, pictured, said: “That was a really strong team performance. We really wanted that medal. It’s been a tough week, with a lot of ups and a lot of downs. “I’ve got world gold, silver and bronze now, so I’m delighted. It’s good to have a solid worlds going into the Olympic Games. We deserved something because we fought really hard all week. OK, it’s bronze and that’s not the colour you want. It takes a lot to come back and win bronze. But we’d be too greedy if we thought we should have had more this week because I think the two best teams are in the final.”

Sweden took the early advantage when, after blanking the first end, their skip Anna Hasselborg tapped back with her last stone, to score two points in the second.

The Scots blanked the third and then scored one in the fourth end when Muirhead drew her last stone inside three Swedish counters.

In the fifth end, Hasselborg played a hit and stay to add one more point for a 3-1 half-time lead. Then, in the sixth, Muirhead took out a Swedish stone with her own last, but had to settle for two points – to level the score at 3-3 – rather than score a possible three when her own stone rolled on just too far after the hit.

The umpire’s measure was called in the seventh end and it denied the Scandinavians moving into a 4-3 lead. After this it was Scotland all the way as they levelled the match in the eight end and then took control.