An astonishing fightback from a 5-2 midway deficit saw Scotland’s Team Morrison earn a place in the semi-finals of the Le Gruyere European Championships in Ostersund tonight.
Heading into the final round robin matches matches, the Scottish women knew they had to beat Norway and hope that other results would go their way, but they struggled in the early stages of the match, as Norway registered twos at the first and third ends, then picked up a steal at the fifth end and when the Scots could only score one at the sixth they looked to have little chance. 
However, a steal at the seventh end rekindled their hopes and after they forced their opponents to take just one at the next, a wonder-shot from skip Rebecca Morrison transformed the game.
With two of their stones sandwiching a Norwegian one around the edge of the button, but all well guarded, Morrison, Gina Aitken, Sophie Sinclair and Sophie Jackson weighed up their options with their final stone, before Morrison took on an ambitious angled promotion from a guard wide on the left of the sheet and executed it perfectly to claim a three that put them in front for the first time.
“In end nine we had options with a difficult shot for a two or a difficult shot for a three, so we went for the three and it really paid off, which is probably what got us the win in the end,” Morrison explained.
That sudden reversal of fortunes seemed to take its toll on their opponents and the Scots piled on the pressure at the final end, before Morrison curled a perfect freeze onto a stone on the button which opposite number Kristin Skaslien was unable to match, allowing Scotland to claim the steal which gave them an 8-6 win.
“We’re feeling amazing right now,” said Morrison.
“It felt like that game wasn’t ours for the taking for a long time and it was such a great fightback in ends nine and 10 to get the win eventually.”
The skip was particularly pleased with the way she and her teammates had responded to the challenge, particularly when they could see the way that results elsewhere were working to give them a chance of making the play-offs.
“It was a tough situation,” she said.
“We’ve not really had that sort of pressure on us before, so it was all new to us, but I think we all handled it brilliantly.” 
They had gone onto the final day of action with only a slender chance of getting through, but had signalled their intent in the morning with a crushing 10-1 defeat of Hungary in just six ends and Morrison believes they can take that into the decisive matches as they prepare to meet Denmark in the semis.
“If we play like we did today then we stand a great chance tomorrow in the semi-final and whenever we play what medal game we’ve got coming up next,” she said.
“There are three other great teams here, so it’s going to be tough, but we’ve definitely got it in us, especially after a fight like that tonight.”
Earlier in the day Scotland’s men, who had already qualified for the semi-finals, suffered their first defeat in 21 matches at the European Championships when they were beaten 7-2 by Switzerland.
Team Mouat still have a chance of finishing as top seeds, but must improve their draw shot challenge record, then beat Italy if they are to do so.
The European Championships qualify teams for next year’s World Curling Championships with the women’s event (LGT World Women’s Curling Championship 2023) also taking place in Sweden in March (18-26 March) and the men’s event (BKT Tires & OK Tire World Men’s Curling Championship) in Ottawa in April (1-9 April).
Men’s teams: Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Norway, Scotland, Spain (replacing Russia), Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.
Women’s teams: Denmark, Germany, Hungary (replacing Russia), Italy, Latvia, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.
Team Mouat
Bruce Mouat
Grant Hardie
BobbyLammie
Hammy McMillan
Kyle Waddell (alternate)
Coach: Michael Goodfellow
Team Morrison
Rebecca Morrison
Gina Aitken
Sophie Sinclair
Sophie Jackson
Hailey Duff (alternate)
Coach: Nancy Smith
WCF European Champs
Schedule:
Friday 18 November 
Women – session 1
Scotland v Turkiye 9-6
Saturday 19 November
Men – session 1
Scotland v Germany 6-4 (EE)
Women – session 2
Scotland v Latvia 7-4
Men - session 2
Scotland v Spain 10-4
Sunday 20 November
Women – session 3
Scotland v Italy 4-10
Men – session 3
Scotland v Sweden 8-7
Women – session 4
Scotland v Denmark 6-11
Monday 21 November
Men – session 4
Scotland v Czech Republic 11-6
Women – session 5
Scotland v Sweden 7-5
Men – session 5
Scotland v Turkiye 10-4
Women – session 6
Scotland v Germany 3-9
Tuesday 22 November
Men session 6
Scotland v Denmark 7-4
Women session 7
Scotland v Switzerland 3-9
Men session 7 - Qualified
Scotland v Norway 8-1
Wednesday 23 November
Women session 8
Scotland v Hungary 10-1
Men session 8
Scotland v Switzerland 2-7
Women session 9 - Qualified
Scotland v Norway 8-6
Thursday 24 November
Men session 9 – 08.00/07.00 GMT
Scotland v Italy
Women semi final 1 – 12.00/11.00 GMT (broadcast game)*
Women semi final 2 – 16.00/15.00 GMT (broadcast game)*
Men semi final 1- 20.00/19.00 GMT (broadcast game)*
Friday 25 November
Men semi final 2 – 09.00/08.00 GMT (broadcast game)*
Women bronze medal game – 14.00/13.00 GMT(broadcast game)*
Men bronze medal game – 19.00/18.00 GMT(broadcast game)*
Saturday 26 November
Women gold medal game 09.00/08.00 GMT(broadcast game)*
Men gold medal game 13.00/12.00 GMT(broadcast game)*
Image: WCF / Ansis Ventins & Celine Stucki
