Leslie Ingram-Brown reports from Austria:"Duncan Menzies, Angharad Ward, Thomas Muirhead and Rachel Hannen suffered a second consecutive defeat at the hands of Daniel Rothballer's Germany 5-4 at an extra end in their Round Robin Red Group Schedule Game 3 here in Innsbruck this morning at the Youth Winter Olympic Games.
With the hammer Germany blanked the first end and then hit and stayed for a single in the second when trying to make a second blank end. Duncan drew for two shots in the third and Rothballer missed on a chance for two shots in the fourth. Game was tied 2-2 at the break.
Fifth and Duncan had to hit on the nose for a single. GBR was in trouble in the sixth and, facing three with his last stone, Duncan played a double but Rothballer drew for two to lead 4-3.
GBR blanked the seventh and in the eighth had stones lying around the tee in the four foot and were lying shot to secure an extra end minimum. Duncan attempted an almost impossible shot with last stone of the end but came up short. It was 4-4 and into an extra end.
Ninth end and Thomas Muirhead played a draw round a front guard to lie. A series of guards and one miss and some half shots from Germany and GBR lay two shots with skips last stones to come. Duncan tried to guard again. First shot was half into the four foot and well covered, but his guard was light in weight and collected a huge final draw leaving a route into the house for Rothballer. The German skip laid the stone beautifully and with a little persuasion from his sweepers made the shot.
Duncan said afterwards, "The team played well but we never really put two really good shots together which allowed the opposition back into the game." In true sporting manner Duncan also acknowledged the fine draw made by his opponent to win at the extra end.
With Japan defeating Austria at an extra end and Sweden winning over Russia, Japan and Russia are the two unbeaten teams in the Red Group.
Next game up for GBR is Canada later today."
GBR 0020 1001 = 4
GER * 0101 0200 1 = 5
SCORES Red Section Game 3: Sweden 5 Russia 3, Canada 6 Italy 0, Japan 7 Austria 5 (Extra end), Germany 5 Great Britain 4 (Extra end)
All the other results are here.
Top photo: Thomas Muirhead delivers, with Rachel Hannen and Angharad Ward the sweepers.
Above: German skip Daniel Rothballer.Photos © Leslie Ingram-Brown.
