Scotland’s Team Mouat were left looking to regroup ahead of their meeting with the USA after suffering their third defeat of the round-robin competition at the BKT World Men’s Championship in Saskatchewan to defending champions Sweden, but knew they still had their destiny in their own hands.
After starting without the hammer (last stone advantage), Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie and Hammy McMillan looked to have turned things their way when they forced their opponents to score one at the opening end, then claimed a two at the second.
However, they then conceded a four at the third end, which gave the team led by seven-time World and seven-time European champion Niklas Edin the upper hand and with their opponents forced to take chances, the Swedes maintained control to the end, running out 10-4 winners after six ends.
The consolation for the Scots was that it allowed them extra time to get ready for what had become an increasingly important match against the USA later in the day, as they bid to secure a place in the play-offs and a place for Team GB at next year’s Olympics. 
“It was not to be today and the team will undoubtedly be disappointed with the result against Sweden, however Edin’s quartet are the reigning Olympic and World Champions and they have very much built on their form through the week,” said British Curling Chief Executive Nigel Holl.
“There are three more games to focus on, now and everything is still in our hands and the focus is on what is ahead and qualifying.”
Confidence consequently remains high in the camp that they will get those jobs done, before re-setting for the knockout stages.
“What is most important is beating teams the second time you meet them in any championship like this one,” Holl continued.
“Whilst it is a long week, we are looking forward to bouncing back for the last days of the round robin ahead of what becomes a whole new competition once we reach the play-offs.”
After that meeting with the USA, which gets underway at 9pm BST, the Scots then face Germany and China on the final day of round-robin action.
The BKT World Men’s Curling Championship runs from 29 March – 6 April, Moose Jaw, SK, Canada.
Scotland Team
Bruce Mouat
Grant Hardie
Bobby Lammie
Hammy McMillan
Kyle Waddell (alternate)
Michael Goodfellow (Team Coach)
Greg Drummond (Olympic Head Coach)
Please click here for draw and results.
Schedule and results:
Day One
Sunday 30 March
Scotland – Austria 12-2
Day Two
Scotland – Japan 9-6
Monday 31 March
Scotland – Korea 9-3
Day Three
Monday 31 March
Scotland – Canada 6-5(EE)
Tuesday 1 April
Scotland – Czechia 8-2
Day Four
Scotland – Italy 9-7
Day Five
Wednesday 2 April
Scotland – Switzerland 7-11
Scotland – Norway 8-4
Day Six
Thursday 3 April
Scotland – Sweden 4-10
Scotland – USA
Day Seven
Friday 4 April
Scotland – Germany -4pm
Saturday 5 April
Scotland – China – 2am
Day Eight
Saturday 5 April
Qualification games*-4pm
Semi Final games*-10pm
Day Nine
Sunday 6 April
Bronze medal game*-4pm
Gold medal game*-10pm
*Games available on the BBC iPlayer
Images: Anil Mungal/British Curling
