Monday morning 9am

Early morning at Taarnby and 4 men’s games in the Red Group are on the ice. This group might have looked on paper as being 6 teams fighting for third place behind USA and Switzerland but results from yesterday and progress on the ice today show that this is far from the case. The USA are struggling again, this time against Ireland where JohnJo Kenny continues to play some great stones – none better than a hit against 3 which removed 2 US stones and rolled all the way across the rings to freeze on the third shot. In the end as I write this hands are shaken with the score 7-3 to Ireland after 7 ends.

Finland who outhit the US yesterday were being pegged back by the Russians after 5 ends (2-2) before they stole a 2 at the 6^th but the Russians responded with a 3 at the 7^th. A total miss by the Russian skip with his first stone at the last and a rollout with his second left Timo Kauste with a straightforward draw for 2 and the game by 6-5.

England and Switzerland were tied 2-2 after 4 but a 2 and a stolen 1 for Switzerland gave them an advantage which England could not get back in spite of a clutch draw against 3 by Michael Sutherland in the 7^th end after a double take-out by the Swiss skip.

The only game which could not match these for excitement was Latvia against Slovakia where Latvia, after a 2 at the first end kept out of reach, in spite of gallant efforts by Slovakia, with a further 2 and a 3 to win 7-4.

So after 2 rounds it is Finland, Ireland and Switzerland on 2 wins who lead the way.