CBC.CA – Torino 2006 – Curling – Headlines
Last Updated: Sun Feb 19 15:29:19 EST 2006
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Shannon Kleibrink improved to 5-3 with an 11-4 triumph over host Italy on Sunday. (CP Photo/Andrew Vaughan)
Canadian curler Shannon Kleibrink rebounded from a shocking loss to Japan by thumping Italy 11-4 at the Torino Olympic Winter Games.
Kleibrink, whose rink curls out of Calgary, improved to 5-3 with Sunday’s nine-end triumph at Pinerolo, located 50 kilometres from Turin.
Sweden (7-1) and Switzerland (6-2) have guaranteed themselves playoff berths with Canada and Norway (5-2) also in position to clinch.
The top four teams advance to the medal round with first-ranked rink facing the fourth and the second taking on the third.
Italy dropped to a tournament-worst 1-7 as skip Diana Gaspari struggled mightily, posting an accuracy rate of 49 per cent.
By comparison, Kleinbrink curled at a 75 per cent clip.
Kleibrink led 5-0 through three ends, opening with a single point and scoring deuces in both the second and third.
Kleinbrink drew inside for a steal of two to go ahead 7-2 in the fifth, but Gaspari got one back with a hit and stick on last rock in the sixth.
Lying two in the seventh, Gaspari put Kleibrink on the defensive by closing the lone port to the button with a high guard.
Kleibrink had no choice but to erase one Italian rock with a straight hit and concede the single point.
Kleibrink drew to the button for two in the eighth, then closed out the contest with a steal of two in the ninth.
Elsewhere, Switzerland scored three in the 10th to edge the United States 9-8, Japan stunned defending Olympic champion Rhona Martin of Great Britain 10-5 and Russia toppled Denmark 9-7.
In the men’s draw, Finland joined Great Britain and the United States in the medal round by virtue of a 7-4 victory over host Italy.
Canada’s Brad Gushue currently holds the upper hand on the fourth and final playoff berth, sitting fourth at 4-3 heading into Sunday’s game against winless New Zealand (0-7).
with files from CP Online
Copyright © CBC 2006
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