UNBEATEN ITALIANS GET BETTER OF GB’S WORLD CHAMPS

Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat suffered their second defeat in the Winter Olympic Mixed Doubles competition in Beijing when they became the sixth team to be beaten by an Italian combination that has so far proved unstoppable, but the World Champions were determined to remain positive as they head into the decisive matches.

Three wins in their remaining games against hosts China, Norway – the team they beat in the World Championship final last year – and the USA will see them into the semi-finals, but the loss to Amos Mosaner and Stefania Constantini left them placed in a share of third spot in the standings on four wins and two losses.

It was a high quality match throughout, with a British steal at the third end tilting things their way after both teams had been forced at the opening two ends, but Constantini reclaimed the initiative as she found a way through a port to take out an opposing stone at the next to serve notice of what was to come and earn a two. 

Her teammate played a succession of excellent shots to set up the position which saw them steal at the next, but it was the Italian woman who was to play a succession of stunning shots to repeatedly turn ends around in the second half of the match.

As Team GB used their powerplay at the sixth end they looked to have set up the chance for a big count that would have given them the initiative, but Constantini produced a freeze with her final stone that was just good enough to prevent Dodds from moving it as far as she hoped to, resulting in only a two for the British pair.

It was the Italians’ turn to use their powerplay at the next and Dodds looked to have got her team out of a tricky situation with a cleverly positioned final stone, but Constantini squeezed the last shot of the end past the guard by the narrowest of margins to register the three that put her team in control.

At the final end Mouat then showed all his craft in setting up an opportunity for a match levelling three that would have taken it into an extra end, but under pressure from the time clock, as well as the way stones were lying, Constantini again produced as she powered into the house and removed three British stones from around the button, leaving her opponents with no shot to save the match and no alternative but to shake hands.

“They were really sharp,” Dodds acknowledged.

“We knew we were going to have to come out and put in a really good performance and I felt we were really close to that. It was just a couple of inches here and there that turned the game around, but we know what they were and we can bring those learnings into our morning’s game against China.”

While aware of what they are up against, they came through tough challenges in winning the Worlds last season and remain confident that they can deal with what is facing them.

“I don’t think there’s any real difference pressure wise,” said Dodds.

“We’re just going to keep doing what we’ve been doing and just tighten up on a couple of things and I think we’ll be solid.”

While the loss was a setback, Mouat still expressed satisfaction with the way they are performing, however and is relishing the prospect of what is to come.

“We’re pretty happy with how we’re doing,” he said.

“We’re obviously a bit disappointed we didn’t win that one which would have put us in a really solid position, but the fact that we’ve beaten a lot of tough teams out there already will stand us in good stead and we’re going into another two-game day tomorrow. It’s almost must-win now, but we’re excited to get going and see what we can do.

“It looks like a lot of teams are beating each other. The ideal situation is that we win all three of our remaining games and then we’re on seven which would be nice. Six is the goal though and two out of the next three would be amazing. 

“The ice has been very good for the last two or three days and we’re really happy with where we are, playing a lot of really good shots, so if we come out tomorrow morning and play like that we’ll still be a tough team to beat.”

While two of their remaining opponents, Norway and the USA, are snapping at their heels with a record of three wins and three losses, their primary focus is their next match against the host nation.

“We were impressed with how the Chinese were playing early in the competition, so we have to come out and play well again,” said Mouat.

“We’re still doing well and still in the top range of the standings, so if we win a few more then we’re going to be pretty happy with that.”