Relentless accuracy when they needed it most saw Scotland produce a vital result in their World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Championship campaign in Stevenston as they dominated the first five ends to set up a 6-3 win over one of their key rivals.
Charlotte McKenna and Hugh Nibloe had gone into their second match of the day under huge pressure, knowing they had to win to retain any realistic chance of reaching the knockout stages and earning the points necessary to earn Great Britain a slot in the discipline that will make its Paralympic debut in Milan-Cortina next year.
An 8-4 loss to Hungary earlier in the day had been their second defeat in succession and they knew that the nature of that performance had not been what was required.
“After the loss this afternoon to Hungary we exchanged a few home truths, got to the bottom of things, worked things out and identified what we needed to do that would bring us a better game and we managed to produce that,” said Nibloe. 
“We put Slovakia under a whole lot of pressure and managed to steal, steal, steal and got total control of the game which meant it was just seeing it out the last couple of ends.”
After registering just one when starting with last stone advantage at the opening, the Scottish pair then picked up steals at each of the next four ends to move into a 5-0 lead.
There were still some nervous moments for their supporters as the Slovakians, who are also still fighting to ensure that they will be at next year’s Winter Paralympics, scored a two at the sixth end, then claimed a steal of their own at the seventh to narrow the gap to 5-3.
However, the game was clinically seen out in the final end with McKenna not even having to throw her final stone.
“We had a chance in seven but only gave up a one and then we just kept it clear in the eighth and made sure we were lying shot and gave them next to nothing to get their two,” said Nibloe.
“So it was a well controlled game and it was great to bounce back after the defeat against Hungary.
“We put the competition right back in our own hands and we will give it our all tomorrow night to make sure we are here at the weekend.”
They now face Spain who, in the same round of matches, suffered a comprehensive 10-3 defeat at the hands of Scotland’s British Curling colleagues Karen Aspey and Stewart Pimblett, whose second successive win has also given England a chance of reaching the play-offs.
However, in a week that has also seen Spain beat Hungary, Nibloe knows that the nature of mixed doubles means he and McKenna have to continue where they left off against Slovakia to give themselves the best possible chance in their final round-robin tie.
“We know how tough a game Spain is going to be,” he said.
“They have had a good result of two this week and they have run a lot of teams close so we know we are going to have to be at our best and can’t let the standard slip, but it is great to have it in our own hands.”
Having missed out on the play-offs by the narrowest of margins a year ago, finishing in ninth spot, with eight teams progressing to the quarter-finals, Aspey and Pimblett meanwhile have two more matches on the final day, facing Hungary and Korea in the knowledge that victory in both might be enough to take them through this time around.
World Curling Mixed Doubles Championships (March 11-16)
Day One -Tuesday 11 March
Session 2
Scotland – England 11-4
Session 4
Scotland – Turkiye 9-2
Day Two – Wednesday 12 March
Session 5
England – Slovakia 4-10
Session 7 – 16.30
England – Turkiye 9-5
Session 8
Scotland – Korea 5-10
Day Three – Thursday 13 March
Session 10
Scotland – Hungary 4-8
Session 12
Scotland – Slovakia 6-3
England – ESP 10-3
Day Four – Friday 14 March
Session 13 – 09.30
England – Hungary
Session 16 – 20.00
England - Korea
Scotland – ESP
Day Five – Saturday 15 March
Quarter Finals – 10.00
Semi Finals – 17.00
Day Six – Sunday 16 March
Bronze medal match – 10.00
Gold medal match – 16.00
Please click here for results
Watch LIVE streamed games on Curling Stadium Europe and The Curling Channel
Scotland Mixed Doubles Team
Hugh Nibloe (skip)
Charlotte McKenna
Coaches:
Head Coach: Sheila Swan
Team Coach: Niall Ryder
England Mixed Doubles Team
Stewart Pimblett (skip)
Karen Aspey
Coaches:
Head Coach: Tony Lenton
Coach: Rosemary Lenton
For more information on our Paralympic Pathway Programme and opportunities please email: Cheryl.lappin@britishcurling.org.uk
Images: World Curling
