British women stay in medal hunt

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.