Leslie Ingram-Brown reports from Sweden:"With Sweden losing to Switzerland and China losing to Norway the top of the leaderboard at the World Junior Men here in Oestersund, is shared by four teams; Canada, Norway, Scotland and Sweden. Kyle Smith, Thomas Muirhead, Kyle Waddell and Kerr Drummond earned their place by defeating Stephen Dropkin's USA 11-8 this morning.
Scotland had the hammer and opened with a three after Kyle had played a delicate shot into the nest of USA stones in the back four foot. But the Scots immediately gave up the same score with perhaps the wrong choice of shot in attempting a take-out on a US counter in the back eight when a draw to the face and quiet tap could have left Dropkin facing further shots.
In the third end, Kyle hit for a pair, and then the Scots stole a single in the fourth as Dropkin attempted a draw against three. In the fifth end the US were back in the game with their skip making a double to level the scores 6-6 at the break.
Sixth, and with Scotland lying three, Kyle played a hit on a US stone lying tight to the Scottish counters and made a clean hit for a four. Seventh and the U.S. halved the deficit with a hit for two shots.
Into the eighth and someone must have warned the USA about time as suddenly stones were being rocketed up the ice and the end was a blank in just under five minutes with Kyle hitting and running with last stone.
The game returned to normal in the ninth and with last stone Scotland made the hit for one, and then they ran the American team out of stones in the tenth.
Next up - Norway - in round robin game 6 and a win against a joint leader would do the cause for the Scots to qualify for the Page Playoffs no harm at all."
RESULTS: Switzerland 7 Sweden 4; Scotland 11 USA 8; Canada 8 Italy 2; Czech Republic 7 Finland 6 (Extra end); Norway 7 China 5.
STANDINGS: 4/1 Canada, Norway, Scotland, Sweden; 3/2 Switzerland, USA; 1/4 China, Czech Republic, Italy; 0/5 Finland.
The official website is here.
Photos © Leslie Ingram-Brown
