Scotland’s Team Mouat made sure of their place in the semi-finals with a two win day at the Le Gruyere AOP European Championship which took them back to the top of the standings heading into the final day’s play in the round-robin stages.
Their extra time defeat to Italy the previous day had brought to an end a long winning run against the top teams in the world, but Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie and Hammy McMillan reasserted themselves in commanding fashion with a 12-5 defeat of Germany, one of this season’s form teams, in their first match of the day.
They then followed that up with a 10-2 defeat of Czechia which was wrapped up in just six ends, earning them extra recovery time as they prepare for their final round-robin match and then those play-offs.
“We knew we had to bounce back after the Italy game and the Germans have been playing really well all season, not just at this tournament, so we knew we had to come out and perform,” said skip Mouat.
“The ice conditions were a little bit tricky this morning and I think we got on top of it a wee bit quicker than they did, which helped us get the early jump on them. 
“It was a good game to see it out after that and we’re very happy with that.
“We carried that momentum through against Czechia and it was really nice to get the Q next to your name going into the game tomorrow.”
The Scots will head into the play-offs aiming to extend an extraordinary sequence that has seen them win every one of the previous four European Championships they have played in.
They are also looking to finish top of the standings, which would earn them last stone advantage in the play-offs.
However, to be sure of that they will have to overcome Sweden’s seven time European, seven time World and reigning Olympic champions Team Edin, who need the win to secure their play-off place.
“It will be a tough game against the Swedes and we’ll need to play well to get that top spot and guarantee hammer in the semi-final,” Mouat acknowledged.
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)
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
Scotland – Germany 12-5
Session 8 – women
Scotland – Italy 9-5
Session 8 – men
Scotland – Czechia 10-2
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
