(Dec 19, 2008) -- Scotland's Murdoch destroys Canadian opponent, Norway's Vad Petersson attempts to steal a stone
CAMROSE, Canada -- North America's men staged another evening comeback, winning two of three matches, but Team World still leads 72-36 at the 2008 Continental Cup of Curling.
North America's Kevin Martin handled Thomas Ulsrud of Norway 7-3 and Craig Brown of the United States shaded Fengchun Wang of China by an 6-3 scoreline. Team World, however, scored a big win of their own when Scotland's David Murdoch thrashed Albertan Kevin Koe 9-4 in just six ends.
The Scots, crowned European champions last weekend in Sweden, scored four points in the opening end and added a shocking five-count in the third.
"That was a great first end, 100 per cent from the guys," said Murdoch, a 30-year old full-time curling athlete, who is funded by Sport Scotland and the Great Britain Olympic program.
"We looked at (scoring) six but... that would have been difficult."
In Friday's earlier draws, North America scored only one win in six attempts, with Team World's women beating all opposition in the morning draws.
"The (World) girls are doing so well, so we've just got to perform," Murdoch said.
Murdoch and Koe will lock horns again in Saturday's second round of men's skins action.
"I like skins, although it hurts your brain sometimes," said Murdoch.
"You can play 100 per cent and still not win anything."
Other Saturday action will see women's and mixed skins play, as well as singles competition.
Team Kevin Martin had just one scary moment, as the skip, the defending world men's champion, was forced to make his last shot of the game facing four Norwegian counters. Martin's draw slipped into the four-foot to count a single point.
"We're firing on all cylinders," said Martin third John Morris.
"We're playing like we did at the Brier and Worlds last season. This is our last spiel of the year and we want to go out on a high note."
A bizarre moment occurred when Norwegian lead Havard Vad Petersson lifted a stone off the button and carried it away... but the end was not over. Kevin Martin still had another shot to play.
"I don't know what he was thinking," Ulsrud laughed afterward.
"The end was taking forever," quipped Vad Petersson.
All game are broadcast on TSN or TSN2 sports television in Canada, with games appearing shortly after broadcast on www.tsn.ca - including availability outside Canada.
The Continental Cup is a unique team tournament in which the first squad to score 201 total points from a variety of curling disciplines wins the Cup, and the lion's share of over $88,000 in prize money. |
