British women stay in medal hunt

Click here for women's draw seven results

BBC Sport Online's Mike Haggerty sees the British women clinch a crucial victory.

Rhona Martin's women beat Switzerland by 7-4 to record their fourth win of the Olympic curling event and put themselves into a clear third place on the rankings - on target for a semi-final place.

In their previous game, Martin's team had been overwhelmed by unbeaten table-topping Canada, and this victory was a real confidence booster after that experience.

Britain opened the scoring in the second end after blanking the first. Martin had a free draw for three when the last Swiss stone wrecked on a front guard on its way into the house.

After this, Swiss skip Luzia Ebnoether took a point in the third end and then Martin moved to 4-1 up in the fifth.

This game was more a case of concentrating, of playing well and winning the game. It's another point to help us on our way.

Rhona Martin, GB skip

The teams continued to swap singles in the next three ends to give Britain a 5-3 lead.

At this point the British team were clearly in control, but Switzerland moved closer in the ninth with a single steal following a miss by British third Debbie Knox.

Despite this added pressure, the British women controlled the tenth end and eventually Martin had a hit to score two for a deserved 7-4 victory, following good clear up work by her entire team.

"That really was a must-win game", Martin said afterwards. "Once we got up at the beginning, we knew it was going to be a long road, and that they would gamble.

"The ninth end was disappointing, but to lose a one wasn't a disaster - we were still one up with last stone coming home".

Speaking more generally, she said, "the three teams we've got left to play are all fighting for places in the semi-finals just like us.

"This game was more a case of concentrating, of playing well and winning the game. It's another point to help us on our way."

While Canada continue to top the rankings, Switzerland remain in a clear second place, with Britain lying third and Germany and Sweden currently tied for the last semi-final slot.

The British women now face Denmark in their next game.

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women's draw seven results:

Great Britain 7-4 Switzerland
Canada 8-4 Germany
Norway 5-4 Russia
Sweden 8-7 Japan

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