Scotland’s Team Morrison readied themselves for a winner take-all match with Norway in the final round-robin session at the Le Gruyere AOP European Curling Championships at Curl Aberdeen, by producing a sound all-round display to see off Estonia.
Rebecca Morrison, Jen Dodds, Sophie Sinclair and Sophie Jackson all looked to be in top form as they move into the decisive matches as they took control of their only game of day five in the first half, scoring a two at the second end, then stealing at the fifth in setting up a 4-1 lead at the break.
They maintained their grip from that point, looking as if they might have finished the match early at the ninth, only for the umpire to give the decision Estonia’s way when making the tightest of calls for shot, with both teams finishing with stones lying just millimetres either side of the pin.
The Scottish response to that situation demonstrated both their sportsmanship and their resolve as they ran their opponents out of stones at the final end to secure a 6-4 win.
“We’re really happy with how we played this afternoon, we really controlled the game,” said skip Morrison.
“Whilst it was tight I felt like we were always in command.
“It was a difficult situation in the ninth end, where neither stone was quite covering the pin, but both of them were close. 
“We weren’t sure who was shot, so we had to get the head umpire to make the call, but we were completely happy with her decision and respect it completely.
“I know it’s not easy for an umpire to make a call like that when the stones are so close, but I think she did a good job.”
With three teams all tied in third place on a record of five wins and three losses, the Scots could also go through if neither they nor Sweden win their final match.
However they are relishing the chance to secure their place with a win which would take them to third in the table, into a semi-final against already qualified Italy.
“Tomorrow is a win and we’re in situation, so we’re pretty much seeing it as a quarter-final almost,” said Morrison.
“From here on out we know we’ve got to win every game if we’re going to get that gold medal, so we feel like we’re already in the knockout stages and that’s not a bad thing, to get that drive a little earlier.”
The top eight men’s and women’s teams at these Championships, which take place from November 18-25 will qualify for the World Championships later this season.
The BKT Tires World Women’s Curling Championship 2024 will be hosted in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada in March 2024 and the LGT World Men’s Curling Championship 2024 will take place in Schaffhausen, Switzerland in April 2024.
Games will be broadcast on Recast available on The Curling Channel
The following games will be available on the BBC Sport website, app and BBC iPlayer
Thursday 23 November
Scotland women v Norway (0900)
Play-offs and medal matches - TBC.
Scotland Schedule:
Saturday 18 November
Women’s Round Robin Session 1
Scotland v Turkiye 8-4
Men’s Round Robin Session 1
Scotland v Norway 5-3
Women’s Round Robin Session 2
Scotland v Denmark 9-11
Sunday 19 November
Men’s Round Robin Session 2
Scotland v Sweden 5-8
Women’s Round Robin Session 3
Scotland v Italy 6-7
Men’s Round Robin Session 3
Scotland v Czechia 6-5
Monday 20 November
Women’s Round Robin Session 4
Scotland v Czechia 8-1
Men’s Round Robin Session 4
Scotland v Switzerland 9-6
Women’s Round Robin Session 5
Scotland v Sweden 9-7
Men’s Round Robin Session 5
Scotland v Germany 8-2
Tuesday 21 November
Women’s Round Robin Session 6
Scotland v Germany 5-3
Men’s Round Robin Session 6
Scotland v Italy 6-7
Women’s Round Robin Session 7
Scotland v Switzerland 2-5
Wednesday 22 November
Men’s Round Robin Session 7
Scotland v Netherlands 9-4
Women’s Round Robin Session 8
Scotland v Estonia 6-4
Men’s Round Robin Session 8 – 19.00
Scotland v Turkiye
Thursday 23 November
Women’s Round Robin Session 9 – 09.00
Scotland v Norway
Men’s Round Robin Session 9 – 14.00
Scotland v Finland
Women’s Semi Finals – 19.00
Friday 24 November
Men’s Semi Finals – 09.00
Women’s Bronze Medal Game – 14.00
Men’s Bronze Medal Game – 19.00
Saturday 25 November
Women’s Gold Medal Game – 09.00
Men’s Gold Medal Game – 14.00
Scotland Women
Rebecca Morrison
Jennifer Dodds
Gina Aitken
Sophie Jackson
Sophie Sinclair
Coach: Ross Paterson
Scotland Men
Bruce Mouat
Grant Hardie
Bobby Lammie
Hammy McMillan
Kyle Waddell
Coach: Michael Goodfellow
#curling #ECC2023
Image: WCF
