Team Nibloe can take confidence despite Canada defeat

Team Nibloe took confidence from a strong performance against Canada despite being pipped in the final end.

The ParalympicsGB mixed team lost 5-4 in another tight encounter, emerging just on the wrong side of a gripping match up.

But despite the defeat, skip Hugh Nibloe was pleased with the performance of his team who have one win from their opening three games.

“We put in a lot of good work there. We played a lot of good stones, just disappointing I couldn’t make them play the last one,” said Nibloe.

“Canada’s skip is really good which makes him easier to follow so tactically we know what they’re going to play, and they know what we’re going to play, so it’s always going to be close.

“It comes down to shot making at the end of the day and a lot of the time we were on top and unfortunately, I just let it slip.”

After blanking the opening end, GB and Canada played out a series of one-point ends that put Canada 2-1 up at the break before Nibloe’s team reversed their fortunes by stealing the seventh end 1-0.

It meant they led 4-2 going into the final end, leaving Canada requiring a three-point swing.

But it was a task they were up to as they won the final end 3-0 to rescue the win.

“It’s disappointing but we all went out there and gave it our all. Can’t ask for any more from every player,” reflected Karen Aspey.

“We’re just going to come out and hopefully do our best again against Korea. Just go and reset and be ready for tomorrow.”

The team had had to recover quickly for the intense fixture with Canada that kicked off early on Sunday morning, after playing out another tense clash with the USA the evening before.

Team Nibloe were drawn into an extra end with little to separate them from Team USA, but superb shot from Stewart Pimblett earned them their first win.

It leaves them with one win from their opening three matches, but they will look to reset against South Korea on Monday, with a semifinal spot still very much on the cards.

“We’ll do a quick debrief, it won’t be much from it. We played well, we’re happy with the performance but we just need to make sure when we come out tomorrow, we finish it off,” added Nibloe.