Sweden maintain 100 per cent record at World Mixed Curling Championships after overcoming Irish test

Sweden continued their winning start by overcoming Ireland ©WCF

Sweden’s perfect start to the World Mixed Curling Championships was put to the test by a determined Irish team in Group A as the fourth day of the tournament took place in Bern, Switzerland.

The group leaders had recorded four straight wins and were expected to brush aside Ireland in their only encounter of the day, however their opponents headed into the match buoyed by a narrow 7-6 win over France earlier on.

An upset did not look on the cards after the opening five ends as Sweden held a 4-2 lead, but led by skip Johnjo Kenny, Ireland gained a point in the sixth end before earning another two in the seventh to stand on the brink of a shock win.

Faced with the prospect of losing their 100 per cent record, the Swedish team of Rasmus Wrana, Johanna Heldig, Zandra and Joakim Flyg rose to the challenge in the final end as they scored with two stones to end with a winning margin of 6-5.

The result keeps Sweden top of Group A with their Scandinavian rivals Denmark following closely behind having beaten Belgium 5-4 to boast four wins and one defeat from their matches so far at the tournament.

There is still no separating Norway and Canada in Group B after they both recorded victories to sit on five wins and one defeat from their matches so far as Norway overcame Latvia 5-3 and Canada recorded a 6-4 win over Australia.

“We are trying to build momentum and get wins at the same time because the competition gets tougher as the week goes on,” the Canadian vice-skip Jolene Campbell stated after their tie.

Norway are currently level at the top of Group B alongside Canada ©WCF

Both nations could be joined at the top of the group when Germany play their game in hand against Latvia.

The host nation’s progression to the knock-out phase of the tournament looks unlikely to be in doubt now as they remain the only unbeaten side in Group C having brushed aside the challenge of Kazakhstan 12-2 in their only tie of the day.

Kazakhstan were also on the receiving end of a 10-4 defeat to England in the group, which would prove to be a landmark moment for the English skip Arthur Bates as he led his team to their first victory at the tournament on his international debut.

England’s neighbours Scotland however have been racking up the victories and continued their unbeaten run in Group D by beating Turkey 9-2, while Hungary also have five consecutive wins after they overcame Japan 10-5.