Scotland’s Eve Muirhead and Bobby Lammie put in another commanding performance to beat Germany and move clear at the top of the Group B standings at the World Mixed Doubles Championship in Geneva after England ended the USA’s unbeaten run.
Claiming the hammer by winning the last stone draw challenge, the Scots duly put a two on the board at the first end and forced their opponents to take one at the second, setting the pattern for the match.
That sequence was repeated at the next two ends and after the Scots started the second half of the match with another two, they were happy to allow their opponents to score two when they took their powerplay at the sixth end. 
That left them 6-4 ahead as they took their own powerplay at the next and another well controlled end produced the two that drew the concession from their opponents.
“That was another solid performance,” said Olympic champion skip Muirhead.
“We played the scoreboard really well, managed to get our twos when we had the hammer and forced them to one.
“I think we got on top of the conditions very quickly, put our stones in very good spots and made it difficult for them and I think every game we’re just building momentum.
“It’s going to be a big game tonight against USA, but Bobby and I are feeling good and we’ve just got to keep the ball rolling.”
The Scottish pair were done a favour ahead of that match by their former British Curling programme colleagues Anna and Ben Fowler who followed up on their defeat of Turkey in the previous round, by out-manoeuvring another brother and sister partnership, the USA’s Becca and Matt Hamilton.
Steals at three of the first five ends, allied to scoring a two at the second, the only time they held the hammer, put the Fowlers 5-2 up and when they then forced their opponents to take just one on their powerplay at the sixth end, they were in complete control, going on to win 7-4.
Victory against the USA in a match that will be will be broadcast later today on Recast, starting at 4pm BST, would put the Scots in a strong position to secure not only a play-off spot, but the top position in the group which brings an automatic place in the semi-finals as they continue the defence of the title won by compatriots Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat last year.
“We’re getting quite a lot of momentum going and each game we feel like we’re learning something, so we can use that to advantage in our next game and each performance is getting better which is nice to see,” said Lammie. 
“It will obviously be a big one against the States, who have just come off a bit of a surprising loss to England and good on the Fowlers for getting that win.
“Hopefully we can just keep doing what we’ve been doing the last few games and if so the result will hopefully take care of itself tonight.”
While sitting in top spot brings added pressure of expectation, the Scots are embracing being in that position.
“Being top of the standings is exactly where we want to be at this stage. It’s in our hands now to get that top spot which is definitely our goal,” said Lammie.
“It will be a tough game tonight, so we’ll just fully focus on that one, try to get that win and we can move forward from there.”
Scotland Mixed Doubles Team
Eve Muirhead
Bobby Lammie
Broadcast games will be shown on The Curling Channel in partnership with Recast.
Tuesday 26 April - Scotland v United States (Peacock and Olympic Channel)
Friday 29 April - Qualifier 1 (TSN1, RDS, Peacock and Olympic Channel). Qualifier 2 (TSN1, RDS, Peacock and Olympic Channel), Semi-final 1 (TSN1/4, RDS, Peacock and Olympic Channel), Semi-final 2 (TSN4, RDS, Peacock and Olympic Channel)
Saturday 30 April - Bronze medal game (TSN1, RDS, Peacock and Olympic Channel), Gold medal game (Swiss TV, TSN1, RDS, Peacock and Olympic Channel)
Schedule for World Mixed Doubles Championships 23-30 April – Geneva, Switzerland
Saturday 23 April
Scotland – England 8-3
Sunday 24 April
Scotland – Australia 9-4
Scotland – Czech Republic 9-3
Monday 25 April
Scotland – Canada 8-4
Tuesday 26 April
Scotland – Germany 8-4
Scotland - USA
Wednesday 27 April
Scotland - Hungary
Thursday 28 April
Scotland – Turkey
Scotland - Spain
Friday 29 April
Qualification game A2 – B3
Qualification game B2 – A3
Semi final B1-A2/B3
Semi final A1 – B2/A3
Saturday 30 April
Bronze medal game
Gold medal game
#curling #WMDCC2022
