Winter Olympics 2010: third defeat may end Britains curling medal dream

By Simon Hart in Vancouver Published: 8:59PM GMT twenty-one February 2010

Hard times: Eve Muirhead sends down a mill conflicting Switzerland in Vancouver Photo: GETTY IMAGES

With 3 wins and 4 losses, even feat in their last dual matches might not be sufficient to safeguard their thoroughfare in to the semi-finals. One of those dual games is conflicting dominant Canada. It is not seeking good.

Muirhead, 19, had betrothed so most on her Olympic debut, commencement with a little glorious shot-making to better the Chinese universe champions in Britains initial match, but on Sunday the vigour looked as if it was starting to tell.

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With last-stone value in the fourth end, the teen had a slight pull to the symbol to collect up a point but left her shot woefully short, notwithstanding her teams mad sweeping.

The inapplicable designation gave the Swiss a four-point take and, carrying already done the early running, an 8-1 lead with less than half the compare gone. Although Britain clawed their approach behind to 9-6, Muirhead unsuccessful to put in an in effect ensure with her last mill in the ninth and Switzerland took advantage. Britain conceded the compare an finish early at 10-6.

The outcome set the sign on a grave integrate of days for Muirhead and her team-mates that have incited their Olympic debate on the head. On Saturday, Japan kick them 11-4 and, a couple of hours later, Muirhead authorised the United States to take the additional finish for a 6-5 win.

History shows that it is still probable to reach the impressive person proviso with usually five round-robin wins. Rhona Martins gold-medal-winning group won usually five in 2002 prior to creation the semi-finals around a treble tie-breaker. But the disappointment for Britain is that their predestine out of their hands.

"Its going to be difficult to come behind but we need to perform how we know we can," Muirhead said. "I dont think were down and out."

Prospects for David Murdoch and his mens group are seeking rosier with 3 wins and 3 defeats so far, though the 31 year-old jump over pronounced they were in "must-win territory" for their 3 superfluous games.

On Sunday they were knocked about 7-6 by Canada, who were aided by a little unusual await from the fans. Just as Canadian lead Marc Kennedy rebuilt to send down his initial mill of the 10th end, the 5,600-strong throng stood up en masse and gave a full-blown delivery of O Canada, bringing fool around to a standstill.

Murdoch, who had constructed a little of his most appropriate fool around of the contest to take a 6-5 lead, found it all really entertaining, though he was less amused a couple of mins later.

He done a inapplicable designation with his last stone, an attempted hit-and-roll, and handed his conflicting number, Kevin Martin, the dual he indispensable to take the match.