Team Scotland suffered a setback in their opening match of the third day at the World Wheelchair Curling Championships in British Columbia, but once again showed their resilience to recover from that and level their account at three wins and three losses.
Starting with the hammer against Latvia they got on the scoreboard first, but over the next four ends they fell further and further behind, before a late rally saw them get the margin back to 6-3 by the finish, offering some encouragement.
“After a strong day two we had gone into the game against Latvia really hoping to push forward and carry that momentum through, but in all honesty we struggled to get going,” their lead Jo Butterfield admitted.
“We just couldn’t get our teeth into the game. It was another slow start and we didn’t take our chances when we had the opportunity. 
“Maybe we didn’t back ourselves enough but actually it was another close match and it felt like it could have gone either way.
The loss put extra pressure on their meeting with the Czech Republic as they sought to keep their play-off hopes alive and they took what they had learned into that match, scoring heavily with a three at the fourth and a four at the sixth on their way to a convincing 9-3 victory.
“We were stronger and more proactive towards the end of the game against Latvia and the message from our coach Sheila Swan going into the draw against the Czech Republic was to continue with the form of the last few ends during the Latvia game and take that forward against the Czechs right from the start,” said Butterfield.
“It didn’t feel like there were massive things to change but just that we very much needed to be in it from the start to back ourselves and to take the chances when we were given the opportunity.
“We were all quite conscious of how important it was to bounce back straightaway and to get another win on the board to keep the points ticking over.
“We actually all had a really good game and we are all buzzing.
“We all came out fighting from that start which is different to what we have done all week so far.
“We made the shots and controlled the play, confident in our tactics and really did back ourselves.
“It just felt like we were all working together as one.
“The Czechs played great too and actually both teams were making the shots but the turning point was probably when we got a three in the fourth end and that took us into the break in the lead and it felt like from that moment we really were in control.
“We just continued to put them under pressure, kept the points ticking over and it was nice to get an early finish and I think we ended the day on a real high and it was a great bounce back game.”
Paralympic gold medallist Butterfield, who is making her World Wheelchair Curling Championships debut, also took the opportunity to pay tribute to teammate Hugh Nibloe, who reached a century of international appearances this week.
“Hugh obviously got his 100th cap while we have been out here and he is rightly very proud of that and so he should be,” she said. 
“What makes it even more impressive is that 100 caps is without a break at all and it just demonstrates how ever-present he has been ever since he has taken up the sport.
“His passion and dedication to wheelchair curling is unquestionable for me though his knowledge for the game is what he’s got.
“He just knows it. I have learnt so much from him in such a short space of time and I think what I really like seeing is the wheelchair curling community backing him, lots of people coming up to him and congratulating him on getting his 100th cap.
“It shows that there is a real sporting spirit among all the athletes from other nations and that is nice to see.”
With spirits high they now face Japan and Canada on what could be a crucial fourth day of action.“It’s just starting to feel like we are getting to the business end of the week,” she said.
“We are just past the halfway mark and I think we need to start digging deep.
“It is a long week and long days but there is still so much to play for. Both Japan and Canada are going to be tough opponents but we need to not get drawn into that and we need to think about us and our own game and our own shot making and our own team processes.
“We need to play confidently and if we play again like we did against the Czech Republic then we are going to be tough opponents, so I am not scared to face anybody.
“It is about taking each game at a time, each end and each stone at a time and making them count and hopefully that is what we can do.”
In the World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles, which is also taking place at the same venue this week, England meanwhile claimed their third victory to take their record to three wins and one defeat, while Scotland are still looking for their first win.
Scotland Team Results
Day One
Scotland – Korea 4-6
Scotland – USA 4-7
Day Two
Scotland – Sweden 10-1
Scotland – Denmark 6-4
Day Three
Scotland – Latvia 3-6
Scotland – Czech Republic 9-3
Day Four
Scotland – Japan
Scotland - Canada
England Team Mixed Doubles Results
Day One
England – Italy 7-6
Day Two
England – Sweden 9-4
England – Latvia 4-8
Day Three
England – Korea 6-5
Day Four
England - Japan
Scotland Team Mixed Doubles Results
Day One
Scotland - Hungary 3-9
Day Two
Scotland - China 3-10
Day Three
Scotland – Slovakia 0-8
Scotland – Norway 6-11
Day Four
Scotland – Estonia
The World Wheelchair Curling Championships and World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Champs are being run in parallel at the Richmond Curling Centre in British Columbia (4-12 March).
The participating 12 teams in the World Wheelchair Curling Championships are hosts Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Norway, Scotland, Sweden and United States.
The World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Champs participating teams are:
Group A: China, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Scotland, Slovakia, Switzerland and United States.
Group B: Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia and Sweden.
Please click here for more information from the World Curling Federation.
Watch LIVE games on Recast.
Scotland Mixed Doubles Team
Charlotte McKenna
David Melrose
England Mixed Doubles Team
Rosemary Lenton
Stewart Pimblett
Scotland Team
Jo Butterfield (MBE)
Meggan Dawson-Farrell
Gregor Ewan
Gary Logan
Hugh Nibloe
#curling #WWhCC2023 #WWhMDCC2023
Images: WCF/Cheyenne Boone
