Scotland were made to work to overcome a spirited Japanese quartet, but a 9-6 victory got their second day of action at the BKT World Championship in Saskatchewan off to a fine start as they continued to demonstrate the sort of form that has seen them dominate the world rankings this season.
Starting without the hammer (last stone advantage), Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie and Hammy McMillan looked as if they could be on course for a repeat of their only game of the first day when they swept Austria aside 12-2 after they scored a four at the second end.
However, their first poor end of the competition allowed Japan to respond immediately with a four of their own and force the Scots to work hard to re-assert themselves. 
“It was a bit of a bad end from us in the third end, but we knew that we had been playing well and could bounce back, so it was good to get a two straightaway and get our noses back in front,” said Mouat.
A blanked fifth end meant they went into the midway break 6-5 ahead and steals at each of the next three ends saw them extend that as they effectively closed out the match.
“We’re all playing very well,” Mouat continued.
“As a skip it’s always nice to see the boys throwing it so good and it gives me a lot of faith that I can put the brush in the right spot and they can make a lot of shots.”
More Asian opposition lies in wait in their only other match of the second day.
“We’ve not played the Koreans since last year’s Worlds, so it’ll be nice to play them again tonight,” said Mouat.
“It’s a new team, so it should be a good game, but if we play like we did today and try to cut out the mistakes we’ll hopefully be on the winning side.”
While the Scots have a strong record of performing in front of passionate home fans in Canada in recent years, winning the World title there two years ago, as well as setting new standards for overseas teams by claiming nine titles on the Grand Slam of Curling circuit, they are meanwhile enjoying having the back of some of their ain folk in the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
“The crowd’s been great so far and I know it’s been the weekend, but hopefully that can last into the week and it’s nice that we’ve got some Scottish fans who have travelled out to support us again, so we’re looking forward to playing in front of them all week,” said Mouat.
The BKT World Men’s Curling Championship runs from 29 March – 6 April, Moose Jaw, SK, Canada.
Scotland Team
Bruce Mouat
Grant Hardie
Bobby Lammie
Hammy McMillan
Kyle Waddell (alternate)
Michael Goodfellow (Team Coach)
Greg Drummond (Olympic Head Coach)
Please click here for draw and results
Images: Anil Mungal/British Curling
