After demonstrating the touch required to produce a precision draw when it mattered most to beat the USA at an extra end, Rebecca Morrison then turned up the power to clinch another final stone match winner against Japan on a crucial day for Scotland at the LGT World Women’s Curling Championship in Korea.
With the team’s setting up end after end well, Morrison had played skips stones pretty much flawlessly in their first match of the day to guide them into a commanding looking 6-3 lead heading into the 10th end, only for the USA to raise their game brilliantly to carve out the three that took that match into extra time.
That had the potential to rattle the Scots and the Americans continued to apply pressure at the 11th end, ultimately leaving Morrison needing to draw inside the four foot rings, with only the left half of them available. 
However, a near perfect delivery combined with quality sweeping and line calling from her teammates brought the win that gave them a lift as they prepared to meet Japan after a short turn-around.
They began that match with last stone advantage, but again came up against opponents who were playing superbly and after blanking the opening end, they were forced to take a single at the second.
When a rare error saw Morrison’s last stone come up slightly short at the third, that provided the opportunity for Japan to claim a three at the third end and leave the Scots with it all to do.
After being forced again at the fourth, they stole at the fifth to level the scores at the break, but the hammer (last stone advantage) had been reversed, so that their opponents still held the upper hand moving into the second half of the game.
Three successive forces duly saw Japan eke out a 5-4 advantage after eight ends but after blanking the ninth, to ensure that they retained the hammer down the last, Morrison seized the opportunity with a brace of take-outs that claimed Scotland’s first multiple score of the match and secured a 6-5 win.
“Those were two great games today and it’s really nice to make the last shot for both wins,” said Morrison.
“We played really well this morning and USA came out and played a blinder as well, so it was a really high standard game.
“To get that win at the end of such a quality game is fantastic and that gives us a lot of confidence.
“We had a great game against Japan as well, just a little bit trickier, but getting the win after another game like that gives us the belief going into tight games that we can see them out.
“It was a tough one losing a three in the 10th end to the USA, but we all just stayed calm and made some nice shots.
“I think we just knew that we were still in control with hammer, so we stayed relaxed and there were some great peels to open it up.”
With conditions becoming more difficult against Japan, they then had to demonstrate some different qualities in their second game of the day.
“We clawed our way back in that game knowing that we had to fight to the end because it was such an important game to win,” said Morrison.
“So, I’m really proud of everyone for playing their part and bringing the energy we needed today.”
She suggested that the team is seeing the benefit of getting their demeanour and attitude right on the ice.
“Our plan this week has just been to stay light-hearted and have fun, so even when the games have been getting tense we’re just doing that and keeping to our processes and so far that’s been working really well for us,” said Morrison.
After a succession of two-game days, they face just one on the sixth day of round-robin action when they will look to improve the record of five wins and four losses that left them in sixth place in the standings overnight ahead of that meeting (5.00am UK time) with Turkiye, who have yet to register a win.
The LGT World Championship is taking place in the Uijeongbu Ice Rink from March 15-23.
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Scotland Team
Rebecca Morrison
Jen Dodds
Sophie Sinclair
Sophie Jackson (skip)
Fay Henderson
Team Coach: Ross Paterson
Olympic Head Coach: Greg Drummond
SCHEDULE:
Saturday 15 March
Scotland – Canada 8-7
Sunday 16 March
Scotland – Norway 7-8
Scotland – Korea 4-5 (EE)
Monday 17 March
Scotland – Italy 7-5
Scotland – Switzerland 5-6
Tuesday 18 March
Scotland – Sweden 3-5
Scotland – Lithuania 9-2
Wednesday 19 March
Scotland – USA 7-6 (EE)
Scotland – Japan 6-5
Thursday 20 March
5.00am Scotland – Turkiye
Friday 21 March
12.00 midnight Scotland – Denmark
5.00am Scotland – China
Saturday 22 March
1.00am Qualifiers
7.00am Semi Finals
Sunday 23 March
1.00am Bronze Medal Game
7.00am Gold Medal Game
Image: World Curling
