Team GB put in a superb performance to beat two of their rivals for play-off places and secure their berth in the semi-finals of the Mixed Team event at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangneung.
Logan Carson, Tia Laurie, Archie Hyslop and Holly Burke had gone into day four of the round-robin competition sharing top spot in their group with Italy and met them in a top of the table clash in the first of their matches. 
They lost out on the pre-match draw shot challenge, so had to start the match without last stone advantage and conceded a two at the opening end, but from that point they controlled proceedings, scoring two’s when they had the hammer and forcing their opponents to singles to ease into the lead ahead of the final end, where they wrapped up a 7-5 win.
That set up a meeting with a Switzerland team with Scottish connections, skipped by Nathan Dryburgh, son of ex-pat Scot Stewart and that was another hard fought match.
Once again starting without the hammer, the British quartet still managed to claim the upper hand early on, stealing at both the second and third ends to move into a 2-0 lead, before the Swiss levelled things with a two at the fourth end, then claimed a steal of their own to move ahead.
A two at the sixth re-established the British advantage and after a blanked seventh end, they piled the pressure onto Dryburgh at the final end and, with four counting against him, he was unable to make the shot that would have taken the match to an extra end.
“As a team we put in two good performances to ensure us as top qualifier and hopefully we can carry this form into the semis,” said Scottish skip Carson, following that 8-4 win.
“Our setups against Italy were great and we were always comfortable with or without hammer.
“The Swiss team were really strong, and both teams were very evenly matched throughout the game, but we were sitting 4 with his last shot to play and luckily he missed it so we got the win.”
“We now have to be fully focused to beat Brazil and keep our confidence levels high going into the semi.”
That final pool match will be all about maintaining momentum, but Brazil have demonstrated their capacity to generate upsets, their only win having come against Germany, who in turn were the only team to beat GB so far.
Results and Schedule:
Saturday 20 - Day 1
GB – Denmark 7-6
Sunday 21- Day 2
GB – Germany 4-7
GB – Canada 6-3
Monday 22 - Day 3
GB – Korea 3-2
Tuesday 23 – Day 4 - QUALIFIED
GB – Italy 7-5
GB – Switzerland 8-4
Wednesday 24 – Day 5
GB – Brazil
Thursday 25 – Day 6
Semi Finals
Bronze Medal Game
Gold Medal Game
Please click here for the schedule and results.
Please click here for streaming.
Images: Team GB/Sam Mellish
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