An extra end win over 2022 champions Denmark ended the opening day on a high for Scotland’s women at the Le Gruyere AOP European Curling Championships in Finland (16 – 23 November)..
Their recovery from losing a tight opening match to Sweden’s 2018 Olympic Champions Team Hasselborg, demonstrated their physical and mental resolve as they came through a match in which the lead changed hands nine times before they finally closed it out.
They had also competed well against the Swedes, twice taking the lead and remaining level at 5-5 after seven ends before their opponents pulled away to win 8-5.
That piled pressure onto their encounter with Madeleine Dupont’s Danes, but Rebecca Morrison, Jen Dodds, Sophie Sinclair and Sophie Jackson handled it well in earning a 5-3 lead at the midway break.
Momentum shifted once again when their opponents registered a three at the sixth end and both teams scored twos with the hammer at the next three ends, before a well managed 10th end saw the Scots hold their opponents to just one and take the match into extra time, where they again controlled things well to run out 11-9 winners. 
“We knew we were going to have a tough first day to the campaign playing two former champions, so we’re really happy to come out with one win, one loss,” said Jackson who is calling the shots for the team, while Morrison plays skip stones.
“That’s a pretty good day at the office for us.”
She said they had taken confidence from the way they had performed in their opening match, in spite of the result against the Swedes.
“We felt like we played well throughout the day,” said Jackson.
“We were actually really happy with how we played this morning when we lost to Sweden, so that set us up well for the game against Denmark.”
While that second match of the day then proved to be emotionally challenging, the outcome and the way in which it was achieved, provided the sort of boost that can set them up for the week.
“It really was a roller-coaster,” Jackson admitted.
“We just had to hang in there and just keep level-headed, keep plugging away, so it was extremely good to come out with the win there.
“Sometimes we have to win a bit scrappy, so it’s good to see that we’re able to do that when we need to.”
Two matches on the opening day has meanwhile provided them with a strong understanding of the conditions in Lohja’s Kisakallio Sport Institute as they prepare for their only match of day two, against Switzerland’s four-time world champions and the rest of the week ahead.
“We’re feeling good about the conditions for the week ahead,” said Jackson.
“We know that there’s plenty of curl out there, which is what we like to play on, so it’s going to really suit us and we’re looking forward to the rest of the week and a one game day tomorrow.”
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Watch LIVE streaming here on The Curling Channel.
The following 7 round robin games will be live streamed on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Scotland website (plus play-off games subject to Scotland qualifying).
Watch on BBC iPlayer.
Watch on BBC Sport Scotland website.
Sat, 16 Nov
17:30 (UK )
Sco v Den (Women)
Sun, 17 Nov
12:00 (UK)
Sco v Sui (Women)
Mon 18 Nov
10:00 (UK)
Sco v Sui (Men)
Tues, 19 Nov
12:00 (UK)
Sco v Ita (men)
Tues, 19 Nov
17:00 (UK)
Ltu v Sco (Women)
Wed 20 Nov
12:00
Sco v Ita (women)
Thurs, 21 Nov
12:00
Swe v Sco (men)
Scotland Schedule:
Saturday 16 November
Session 1 – women
Scotland – Sweden 5-8
Session 1 – men
Scotland – Netherlands 8-6
Session 2 – women
Scotland - Denmark 11-9 (EE)
Sunday 17 November
Session 2 – men 07.00
Scotland – Norway
Session 3 – women – 12.00
Scotland - Switzerland
Session 3 – men 17.00
Scotland – England
Monday 18 November
Session 4 – women – 06.00
Scotland - Turkiye
Session 4 – men 10.00
Scotland – Switzerland
Session 5 – women – 14.00
Scotland - Hungary
Session 5 – men 1800
Scotland – Austria
Tuesday 19 November
Session 6 – women – 07.00
Scotland – Estonia
Session 6 – men – 12.00
Scotland – Italy
Session 7 – women – 17.00
Scotland - Lithuania
Wednesday 20 November
Session 7 – men – 07.00
Scotland – Germany
Session 8 – women – 12.00
Scotland – Italy
Session 8 – men – 17.00
Scotland – Czechia
Thursday 21 November
Session 9 – women – 07.00
Scotland - Norway
Session 9 – men – 12.00
Scotland – Sweden
Semi Finals – women – 17.00
Friday 22 November
Semi Finals – men – 07.00
Bronze medal game – women – 12.00
Bronze medal game – men – 17.00
Saturday 23 November
Gold medal game – women – 08.00
Gold medal game – men – 13.00
Image: World Curling
