DODDS AND MOUAT QUALIFY FOR SEMIS DESPITE LOSS TO NORWAY

Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat lost their World Championship final re-match with Norway’s Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nordegrotten in Beijing’s Ice Cube, but there was rapid consolation for them when it was confirmed that results elsewhere meant they were sure of a place in the semi-finals.

The result represented a measure of revenge for the Norwegians after their narrow loss to the British pair in the World Championship final in Aberdeen last year and it was a win they needed to keep their own hopes of reaching the play-offs alive.

However, Sweden’s defeat by still unbeaten Italy and one of the biggest shocks in Olympic history which saw the first ever Australian representatives in curling beat traditional powerhouse Canada, meant that both teams cannot now be overhauled because of their superior head-to-head record against their fellow contenders. 

“We found out when we were in the changing room. Jen was looking at her phone when she got a text saying we’d qualified, so we had a wee hug and tried not to get too excited, because we’ve still got a big game against the USA tomorrow that we want to get the job done and end the round-robin on a good note,” said Mouat.

“We’re very excited to be going into the semis to see what we can do, though. To have two chances at a medal is obviously the exact position we wanted to put ourselves in at the start of the week.”

Dodds said that the message from Eve Muirhead, Team GB’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony and skip of the women’s team she will be playing in later in the week, had softened the blow following their loss.

“We were a wee bit disappointed coming off the ice there, not performing and not getting that win, but we actually thought it was still in our control if we beat the USA this morning and then we got back to the changing room and I got a text from Eve saying we’d qualified.

“Kenny (More) our analyst confirmed it and he’d done all the maths, so it was a bit of a weird feeling, but nice to know we’ve qualified into the next stage and at that point it’s a total new competition.”

They had gone into the match with the Norwegians knowing a win would secure their semi-final place and had started with the hammer, but steals for the Norwegians at each of the opening two ends gave them the upper hand and Dodds needed to make a high class angled raise at the next end just to prevent it from being three in a row.

Kristin Skaslien was then left with an open draw into the 12 foot to score a single at the next, to take a 3-1 lead into the second half, leaving Dodds and Mouat confronting the need to produce a second comeback of the day in the back half of the match.

When the Norwegians then manufactured yet another steal at the fifth, Team GB were 4-1 down again, as they had been against China earlier in the day, but this time with fewer ends in which to recover.

Mouat looked to have set up the chance to get back within range when Dodds was left with a draw to the four foot, with backing, with her final stone, but she came up well short and after the Norwegians secured a two on their own powerplay to move 6-2 ahead, the final end was little more than a formality and hands were shaken midway through.

“We are a bit disappointed, but they played a real impressive game today and they’ve had two really tough opponents today in us and Sweden and really pulled it out of the bag, so, kudos to them,” said Mouat.

“It’s been a wee bit frustrating, but we’re looking at how we’re playing individually and each game as it comes to it and we’re still playing really well, we’re just facing opponents who are out-curling us, so we just need to put our stones in a better spot around the top four and try to control it there.”

While the guarantee of being involved in the medal matches eases some of the immediate tension, Dodds noted that they will still be looking to secure a victory which will have a say in deciding which team they will face in the semi-final, knowing that another of the big favourites, either Canada or Sweden, will not now make it through to tomorrow’s semis.

“We still want to get that confidence tomorrow and bring in a good performance,” she said.

“They could come out firing tomorrow to show what they can do because they’re a great team. They came through the qualification event and played really well there. This week could have not been their week, but we have to prepare for them to come out firing tomorrow.”

It has been a challenging week for the World Champions, but Dodds reckoned they would benefit from having been involved in a series of tight finishes.

“We love playing under the pressure and it is going to be another hard fight tomorrow against the USA, but I think we’re both looking forward to getting out there and showing what we can do,” she said.

“If you keep putting yourself in those type of situations you get used to the pressure and how you react to it, so that you can adapt. So, the more you get put in those situations it’s almost the more comfortable you feel with them.”

She is hopeful, too, that the best is yet to come from them as they move into the second phase of the competition, just as happened in Aberdeen last May.

“We’ve had glimpses of our best, but just probably haven’t strung a whole game together yet, so we’re still looking to put a full eight ends together to show how we can perform,” said Dodds