Scotland had a difficult opening day at the SD Biosensor World Wheelchair Championships suffering two narrow 6-5 losses to Latvia and Norway, but skip Hugh Nibloe is confident that the results will come this week at the Gangneung Curling Centre (2-9 March).
An ideal start against Latvia saw the Scots build a comfortable 5-2 lead after five ends, but their opponents claimed a two at the sixth and they then stole at the next two ends to clinch the win.
“The opening game result was disappointing,” said Nibloe.
“We got ourselves in a strong position at the start but the momentum switched and we just couldn’t get back on the horse.
“Overall it was a half decent performance but I guess we just didn’t get the rub of the green in that one.”
In contrast to their campaign opener, they then fell behind to Norway early on before rallying to get back in the match. 
“We were four down after three ends but Gregor made a couple of great shots to keep us in the game and take us into extra time,” he said.
“I think we did well to get there.
“We absolutely felt we had a chance when we got to the extra end.
“We had pulled off a couple of steals during the game and we felt that we could steal some more.”
Scotland’s last stone looked on course but just caught the guard in front of the house which gave Norway the victory.
“We had the opportunity but we just got unlucky and managed to take it to the last stone and at the half end break we would have definitely taken that,” said Nibloe.
“Today definitely gave us the chance to get to grips with the ice conditions out here and two very different sheets to play on.
“Tonight’s had a bigger swing so it will be interesting moving forward but we know it is the same for everyone, it is just who adjusts quicker and we have to learn from that and be better tomorrow against Italy.
“If we had any, the pre-tournament nerves have definitely gone and we know have a performance there if we take the first half of the first game and the second half of the Norway game.
“So we can win games, we just need to make sure we get that over eight ends and not just half a game.
“I think we know we have that in us and while we are disappointed we know we have something to build on.”
The Scots have a one game day tomorrow against Italy, who enjoyed a successful start to their world championship campaign with a 4-2 win over the USA, so Nibloe knows they will be looking to carry that form into day two.
“Italy had a good win, so we have time to prepare for that tomorrow to get us fully prepped and ready to go,” he said.
“I am quite confident that for the rest of the week we can overturn this disappointing start and we can still make something come of our next few days and still compete for play-offs.
“It doesn’t matter if we finish first or sixth, if you get in one of those positions you can go into the second half of the tournament with the knowledge, as it has been seen in some of the scorelines today, that everyone here is capable of beating anyone.
“It is very much game on now and we are really looking forward to tomorrow’s game.”
The team event is followed by the World Mixed Doubles Championships which starts on Monday 11 March until Thursday 14 March, with home nations Scotland and England in a field of 21 teams representing their national Member Associations.
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Scotland Team
Hugh Nibloe
Gregor Ewan
Robert McPherson
Meggan Dawson Farrell
Gary Smith (alternate)
Team Leader David Leith
Team Coach Luke Carson
Scotland Mixed Doubles Team
Charlotte McKenna
Gary Smith
Team Coach Niall Ryder
England Mixed Doubles Team
Stewart Pimblett
Karen Aspey
Team Coach Tony Lenton
Assistant Coach Rosemary Lenton
Schedule
Saturday 2 March
Session 1 – 5am (GMT)
Scotland – Latvia 5 - 6
Session 2 -10am (GMT)
Scotland – Norway 5 – 6 (EE)
Sunday 3 March
Session 4 – 5am (GMT)
Scotland – Italy
Monday 4 March
Session 6 – 12 midnight (GMT)
Scotland – Korea
Session 8 – 10am (GMT)
Scotland – Czechia
Tuesday 5 March
Session 9 - 12 midnight (GMT)
Scotland – USA
Session 11 – 10am (GMT)
Scotland – Canada
Wednesday 6 March
Session 13 – 5am (GMT)
Scotland – Estonia
Session 14 – 10am (GMT)
Scotland – Sweden
Thursday 7 March
Session 15 – 12 midnight (GMT)
Scotland – Slovakia
Session 16 – 5am (GMT)
Scotland – China
Friday 8 March
Qualifications – 5am (GMT)
Semi Finals – 10am (GMT)
Saturday 9 March
Final – 2am (GMT)
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