Comfortable victories over Estonia and Lithuania kept the Scotland team’s fate in their own hands at the Le Gruyere AOP European Curling Championships in Finland as they head into their final two matches of the round-robin section of the event.
Their morning meeting with the Estonians was over in seven of the scheduled 10 ends as they racked up an 8-1 lead and it was a similar story in the evening as Rebecca Morrison, Jen Dodds, Sophie Sinclair and Sophie Jackson took just one more end to establish a 9-2 lead over Lithuania to once again draw the handshakes from their opponents.
“We were really in control in both games today, which was great to see,” said Morrison, who is playing skip stones.
“Not only were we in control, but we also played brilliantly, so it’s just really good going forward into tomorrow’s game, which is another important one for us. 
“We’re in a situation where we’d like to see two more wins in the round-robin and we’re really happy with our momentum building.”
Collectively and individually the Scottish team are placed high on the statistics tables at the event, which is also feeding into their confidence as they look to maintain the place they currently hold in the top four in the table, which would earn them a semi-final spot.
“Everyone’s performing really well, so it’s just about keeping that up when the shots maybe get a little bit more tough,” said Morrison.
“However, we’re just looking to make all the simple shots well and hopefully that’ll help us see out some games from now on.”
Their only match on day five of the event sees them meet an Italian team that has already clinched the third of the semi-final spots behind Switzerland and Sweden and the Scots know that if they win that match and their last round meeting with Norway that no one can prevent them claiming that play-off place.
“We’ve played Italy quite a few times, including a couple of times this season,” said Morrison.
“Both of those have been really close games, so we’re hoping for another close game tomorrow, that we come out on the right side of this time and if we take advantage of any opportunity that we get then we’ve got a good chance.”
Please click here for more information and results
The following 7 round robin games will be live streamed on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Scotland website (plus play-off games subject to Scotland qualifying).
Watch on BBC Sport Scotland website
Sat, 16 Nov
17:30 (UK )
Sco v Den (Women)
Sun, 17 Nov
12:00 (UK)
Sco v Sui (Women)
Mon 18 Nov
10:00 (UK)
Sco v Sui (Men)
Tues, 19 Nov
12:00 (UK)
Sco v Ita (men)
Tues, 19 Nov
17:00 (UK)
Ltu v Sco (Women)
Wed 20 Nov
12:00
Sco v Ita (women)
Thurs, 21 Nov
12:00
Swe v Sco (men)
Women 4W3L
Scotland Schedule:
Saturday 16 November
Session 1 – women
Scotland – Sweden 5-8
Session 1 – men
Scotland – Netherlands 8-6
Session 2 – women
Scotland – Denmark 11-9 (EE)
Sunday 17 November
Session 2 – men
Scotland – Norway 6-5
Session 3 – women
Scotland – Switzerland 1-8
Session 3 – men
Scotland – England 8-1
Monday 18 November
Session 4 – women
Scotland – Turkiye 4-5
Session 4 – men
Scotland – Switzerland 7-6
Session 5 – women
Scotland – Hungary 9-3
Session 5 – men
Scotland – Austria 10-2
Tuesday 19 November
Session 6 – women
Scotland – Estonia 8-1
Session 6 – men
Scotland – Italy 7-10
Session 7 – women
Scotland – Lithuania 9-2
Wednesday 20 November
Session 7 – men – 07.00
Scotland – Germany
Session 8 – women – 12.00
Scotland – Italy
Session 8 – men – 17.00
Scotland – Czechia
Thursday 21 November
Session 9 – women – 07.00
Scotland - Norway
Session 9 – men – 12.00
Scotland – Sweden
Semi Finals – women – 17.00
Friday 22 November
Semi Finals – men – 07.00
Bronze medal game – women – 12.00
Bronze medal game – men – 17.00
Saturday 23 November
Gold medal game – women – 08.00
Gold medal game – men – 13.00
Image: World Curling
