Canada, Sweden for bronze again
Switzerland and Norway will meet in the world women’s curling championship final.
Semifinal Saturday in Sandviken, Sweden saw the host team’s Anna Hasselborg swept aside 8-4 by the Swiss, who are now 13-0 (and on a 35-0 world streak) and seeking their country’s fourth straight global title.
In the other semi, Norway’s Marianne Roervik scored a big three-count late in the game to upend Canada’s Kerri Einarson 8-5.
Silvana Tirinzoni’s defending champions continue to be the major story. Team Switzerland scored four deuces with last rock advantage and held the Swedes to just one two-count in earning the victory.
Swiss fourth thrower Alina Paetz tore it up yet again, firing 90 per cent to Hasselborg’s 74 per cent.
Canada opened their scoring with a deuce in the third end to go up 2-1, only to see Norway grab a three-count in the fourth.
In end five, Einarson threw wide on a hit through a port for two, and second Shannon Birchard attempted a directional sweep. The shooter missed the guard but hit and rolled out of play, for a 4-3 Norway lead.
Einarson made two hits in the sixth frame for an eventual Canada steal, and a well-placed guard in the eighth made Norway’s draw for two points too difficult, and the score was 5-4 to the Norwegians.
A solid freeze-tap by Roervik in the eighth end led to a nervy, fudgy Einarson draw for a single Canadian point and another tie at 5-5.
Canada looked to be in trouble in the ninth end, with Norway lying four with three counters behind cover. A few stones later, Einarson made a beautiful draw around everything to sit shot stone, but Norwegian fourth thrower Kristin Skaslien made the in-off to lie three. That was the eventual count, for the 8-5 Norway advantage.
Roervik gassed a peel in the 10th end, giving hope to their opponents, but the Canadians were unable to get the tying three they needed.
Sweden and Canada will meet in Sunday’s third place game for the second year in a row, prior to the gold medal final.
Last year’s bronze battle between the teams saw Canada edge the Swedes by an 8-7 score line.
