Victories over Germany and Estonia left Scotland clear at the top of the table as the only remaining unbeaten team in the women’s competition at the end of five rounds of play at the Le Gruyere AOL European Championships in Lillehammer.
They had begun the third day’s play joint top of the standings with the Germans and took control of their morning encounter with a three at the third end, then effectively killed off the game with another three count at the sixth end. 
Later in the day they lost the last stone draw to concede the hammer at the opening end to an Estonian team that had not won a match, but they began by stealing two at the opening end, then another three at the second on their way to a 10-3 win and another energy saving early finish.
Their experienced skip Eve Muirhead duly registered high satisfaction with the way all five team members, along with their support crew of Olympic Head Coach David Murdoch and Team Coach Kristian Lindstrom are going about their work.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better start,” she said.
“We’re getting better every game as well and we’re getting on top of the ice conditions.
“I’m really enjoying how the team’s working together. Dave and Kristian are doing a fantastic job with us and after every game we’re looking into the small details. That is helping us be really critical out there to just make the most of every opportunity we have, because at this level you can’t afford to slip up at all and so far I think we’ve done a very good job.”
She was particularly pleased that their dominance allowed them to reshuffle their line-up for the second time in the event to give fifth player Mili Smith an opportunity to get onto the ice. This time around it was reigning mixed doubles World champion Jen Dodds who took a break, with Hailey Duff moving to second as Smith took over at lead and she fitted in seamlessly.
“We also took Mili on for ends six and seven, so it was really nice for her to get on the ice again,” said Muirhead. 
“She played great with two perfect tick shots at the seventh end setting us up to get our two and that was the handshake, so another great team performance.”
Muirhead also reaffirmed her view that the team is reaping the benefit of the way the leading women on the British Curling programme were formed into a squad of nine in a bid to work out the best combinations.
“You could look at the results all season from the two squad teams and they have been good,” she observed.
“There’s been qualification in about every event we’ve played in, a lot of tournament wins, a lot of finals, so it’s been tough for everyone. However, sometimes you maybe need that to get back to the top, so far so good and I can’t complain one bit.”
Day four will see them face Italy and the Czech Republic.
Scotland Team
Eve Muirhead
Vicky Wright
Jen Dodds
Hailey Duff
Mili Smith
#curling #ECC2021 
PHOTOS: WCF / STEVE SEIXEIRO
Schedule and Results
Saturday 20 November
W Scotland v Russia 7-4
M Scotland v Sweden 6-2
W Scotland v Denmark 8-2
Sunday 21 November
M Scotland v Finland 6-2
W Scotland v Sweden 8-5
M Scotland v Italy 7-2
Monday 22 November
W Scotland v Germany 9-5
M Scotland v Netherlands 9-2
W Scotland v Estonia 10-3
M Scotland v Germany 7pm
Tuesday 23 November
W Scotland v Italy 8am
M Scotland v Denmark 1pm
W Scotland v Czech Republic 6pm
Wednesday 24 November
M Scotland v Switzerland 8am
W Scotland v Switzerland 1pm
M Scotland v Czech Republic 6pm
Thursday 25 November
W Scotland v Turkey 7am
M Scotland v Norway 11am
W Semi Final 2 v 3 3pm
W Semi Final 1 v 4 7pm
Friday 26 November
M Semi Final 2 v 3 8am
M Semi Final 1 v 4 12.30pm
W Bronze medal game 5pm
Saturday 27 November
M Bronze medal game 8am
W Gold medal game 11.30am
M Gold medal game 4pm
