VANCOUVER (World Curling Federation)– There’s nothing like a classic rivalry to halt a losing streak.
Scotland’s Graeme Black, mired in next-to-last place with only one win in five previous outings, came out guns blazing against historical rivals Canada at the 2009 World Junior Curling Championships.
“We’re still in the competition,” exulted Black, a 19-year-old student from Lockerbie. “It was the first time we’ve put a team under pressure.”
Black’s foursome broke open a tight contest with a three-count in the seventh end and stole two more points in the eighth for a 6-2 lead.
Canada’s Brett Gallant, the front-runner from Prince Edward Island, scored a deuce of his own in the ninth but Scottish lead Thomas Sloan made a perfect split, or “tick shot” in the 10th to pave the way to victory.
“You’re always wanting to raise your game against the best, and we did that,” said Black.
Canada dropped to 6-1 while Scotland improved to 2-4.
“I didn’t make any shots,” declared Gallant, a 19-year-old University student from Charlottetown.
“I should have slept in. My team played well in front of me, but…” Gallant’s voice trailed off.
In other matches, Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson pummelled Germany’s Konstantin Kaempf 11-6, China’s Jialiang Zang dumped Norway’s Kristian Rolvsjord 8-4 and defending world junior men’s champion Chris Plys of the United States held off Switzerland’s Roger Meier by a 5-4 count.
Trailing Canada at 4-2 are Denmark’s Rasmus Stjerne, Sweden and the United States. Norway is at 4-3, China is at 3-3, Switzerland are 3-4, Russia is tied with Scotland at 2-4 and Germany is winless at 0-7.