Monday, February 11, 2002
Law rink has great start
By CHRIS STEVENSON -- SLAM! Sports
OGDEN, Utah - Their first game might have been a foreshadowing of the last.
Canada can only hope.
If that's the case, Kelley Law's Team Canada rink got the upperhand on
Sweden's Elisabet Gustafson with a 5-4 win in the first draw of the women's
curling event.
Law exploded for four in the fifth end to take control of the match between
the two rinks many consider the favourites to meet in the gold medal game
Feb. 21.
"We wanted to come out strong and we did. We're pleased with our
performance," said Law, of Coquitlam, B.C. "It's a big game in the round
robin. Now if there's a playoff, we have the edge over them.
"It's been about eight weeks since Regina (where the Olympic trials were
held) or something like that and there's been a lot of anticipation. We were
a little nervous going out, but being nervous is a good thing."
"We were all feeling ready to play. We were a little anxious because we've
been here a while," said Georgina Wheatcroft, Law's second who had a strong
performance, curling 90 percent on the day. "We had some butterflys, but they
seemed to fly in the right direction."
Wheatcroft, Cloverdale, B.C., had a hand in helping set up the pivotal fifth
end after Law, playing efficiently and cautiously, blanked the first four
ends while waiting for the chance to pounce.
With Canada lying four, Gustafson, the four-time world champion who won the
bronze in Nagano, tried an in-turn double takeout, but wrecked on a guard and
left Canada lying three with her shooter wide open. Law hit and stuck for
four.
After forcing Gustafson to draw for one in the sixth, Law had a draw for two
in the seventh but came up short and had to settle for one herself to make it
5-1. Law just missed a double-raise takeout in the ninth leaving a Swedish
rock in the 12 foot and Gustafson hit and stuck for a deuce.
Law didn't need the final rock of the 10th end and they shook hands.
"It was a very good start for us against Canada," said Gustafson, "against a
very good team. You know you have to play well to steal something (from
them). Even if we lost, it was a good start."
In other matches Monday, Great Britain's Rhona Martin upset Norway's Dordi
Norby - one of Canada's opponents Tuesday - 10-6. Switzerland's Luzia
Ebnoether beat Denmark's Lene Bidstrup 9-8 and Germany's Natalie Nessler
defeated the Russian rink of Olga Jarkova 8-5. Team Canada plays Russia in
its second game of the second draw Tuesday.
Canada's team is rounded out by lead Diane Nelson of Pitt Meadows, B.C. and
third Julie Skinner of Victoria, B.C.
Law said her ankle, which she seriously sprained while dancing in Gander,
Nfld., in January was not a factor.
"My foot feels fine," she said. "I wasn't kidding when I said it. Hopefully
now people will believe me."
2002 Games Curling Coverage
