Eve Muirhead stopped short of claiming that her team had faced a must win match in their meeting with table-topping Japan, but she acknowledged that their 8-5 victory had been just what they needed to get back on track at the Olympic Qualification Event in the Netherlands.
She and teammates Vicky Wright, Jen Dodds and Hailey Duff would have been under considerable pressure if they had lost a third successive match on the Leeuwarden ice, but they took charge of their meeting with the Japanese team from the off. 
For the fourth time in four matches they claimed the hammer by winning the pre-match last stone draw, but they made the advantage count for the first time in text book fashion as they blanked the opening end, then scored two at the second to take both the lead and control of the even ends.
A steal at the third then provided breathing space and although opposing skip Fujisawa Satsuki produced a brilliant angled raise to register a two at the fourth, they responded in kind at the next to head into the midway break 5-2 up.
After a force at the next Muirhead was then left with a straightforward take out with her final stone to move 8-3 up at the seventh end and, although their opponents played on for a further two ends, the match was all but over.
“It felt like we were in control and it showed what we’re capable of after struggling through the first few games. We just haven’t managed to string a lot of shots together. We’ve struggled a little with the conditions, but tonight was a lot better,” said the Scottish skip.
“We were just very clinical with our stone placement. There were a lot of great shots from both teams, but I think we capitalised on their mistakes and overall just outplayed them, so that’s good momentum for us going forward.
“There’s a lot of relief, but also a lot of satisfaction because we showed how well we can play, because we did play very well out there.
“Overall, it was a game we didn’t need to win, but it helps us a lot and puts us in good stead ahead of playing Germany tomorrow.” 
While losing two of their first three matches had generated some nervousness, the experienced Muirhead indicated that she is comfortable with where they now find themselves on two wins and two losses.
“Being on only two wins having had an early bye makes it looks a bit worse than it is,” she observed. “We’re only on two losses, though with four games left and I know we’re capable of winning those last four, which would hopefully put us in a good position.
“We’ve got four very important games left, but we’ve got it in our own hands, so we just have to keep the ball rolling and keep playing like we can play.”
The Scots now face Germany in their only game of the fourth day.
Scotland Team (Qualifying Team GB for Beijing 2022)
Eve Muirhead
Vicky Wright
Jen Dodds
Hailey Duff
Mili Smith
Schedule:
Saturday 11 December
0800 – Session 1
Scotland v Czech Republic 7-5
Sunday 12 December
1300 – Session 3
Scotland v Turkey 3-7
Monday 13 December 
0800- Session 4
Scotland v Korea 4-8
1800 – Session 5
Scotland v Japan 8-5
Tuesday 14 December
1300 – Session 6
Scotland v Germany
Wednesday 15 December
0800 – Session 7
Scotland v Estonia
1800 – Session 8
Scotland v Latvia
Thursday 16 December
1300 – Session 9
Scotland v Italy
Friday 17 December
0900 Play-off Session 1
Saturday 18 December
0900 Play-off Session 2
Images: WCF/ Celine Stucki
#curling #OQE2021 #Roadto2022
