A powerful performance in the second half of their meeting with previously unbeaten Japan saw the GB Students women’s curlers register their first win at the FISU Winter World University Games in Torino.
Laura Watt, Amy Mitchell, Holly Wilkie-Milne and Lisa Davie had to battle hard to get to the midway break level at 2-2 with their high flying opponents in their only game of day four.
However, after that interval they came out impressively, stealing a two at the fifth end, forcing their opponents to take just one at the sixth, then scoring another two when they had the hammer and last stone advantage at the seventh end on their way to closing out a 6-3 win.
“We are super chuffed with that game,” said skip Watt.
“I am so proud of the girls.
“We all really stuck together as a team and played our best game yet this week so we are really glad to get that win on the board.
“The game was really close throughout, both teams were making a bunch of great shots but we capitalised on any half shots or misses we got out of them and that got us over the line in the end.”
She said they had received an extra boost when the crowd that has been creating a lively atmosphere was augmented by some familiar faces.
“Our families have all arrived now, so it is really nice hearing them and seeing them cheering in the crowd,” said Watt, whose team now meets the USA and Poland on day five of the team event.
“We are really taking that and using the atmosphere to build and making the great shots for them to cheer for.
“We are going to take that into tomorrow and we have been improving with every game so we will keep on doing that and try and do the same tomorrow.”
It was a more difficult day in the men’s event for Arran Thomson, Ross Craik, Kaleb Johnson and Rory MacNair as they were beaten 7-5 by Sweden and 7-4 by the host nation.
“It was a tough loss this morning,” skip Thomson said of the loss to the Swedes.
“We felt close the whole way but couldn't pull through. 
“The second game was similar on the score line but was different to play.
“We strung together some really strong ends and showed lots of potential heading into the later stages of the weekend.”
They must now win all three of their remaining matches and hope for help from elsewhere to have any chance of reaching the play-offs, but remain determined to give their best throughout at an event that can help their development as curlers and competitors.
“For the rest of the week, we can only hope to build on the strengths in today's games and put on a show till the end,” said Thomson.
“We are learning lots about each other, our processes, especially reading ice and mapping the sheet.”
GB Students Women’s Team
Laura Watt (University of Highlands and Islands - Perth College UHI)
Amy Mitchell (University of Stirling)
Holly Wilkie-Milne (University of Stirling)
Lisa Davie (The Open University)
Cara Davidson (Edinburgh Napier University)
GB Students Men’s Team
Arran Thomson (The Open University)
Ross Craik (University of Abertay)
Kaleb Johnson (University of Stirling)
Rory MacNair (Edinburgh Napier University)
Fraser Swanston (SRUC)
Head Coach – Nancy Smith
Women’s Coach – Luke Carson 
Men’s Coach – Niall Ryder
Schedule:
Wednesday 15 January
GB Men
GB – Korea 3-5
Thursday 16 January
GB Women
GB – Korea 3-6
GB Men
GB – Ukraine 8-6
GB Women
GB – China 7-8
Friday 17 January
GB Men
GB –China 5-6
GB Women
GB – Canada 1-11
GB Men
GB – Norway 3-8
GB Women
GB – Norway 3-6
Saturday 18 January
GB Men
GB – Sweden 5-7
GB Women
GB – Japan 6-3
GB Men
GB – Italy 4-7
Sunday 19 January
GB Women – 0700
GB – USA
GB Men - 1100
GB – Switzerland
GB Women – 1500
GB – Poland
GB Men - 1900
GB – USA
Monday 20 January
GB Women 0800
GB – Italy
GB Men - 1300
GB – Canada
GB Women - 1800
GB – Sweden
Tuesday 21 January
Men Semi Final 1 - 0700
Men Semi Final 2 - 1100
Women Semi Final 1 - 1500
Women Semi Final 2 - 1900
Wednesday 22 January
Women Bronze Medal Game - 1300
Men Bronze Medal Game - 1800
Thursday 23 January
Women Gold Medal Game - 0900
Men Gold Medal Game - 1300
Please click here for results.
Images: Jack Hodgetts
