The going gets tough for Martin from now on

By: Allen Cameron Posted: 1:00 AM CST Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010

VANCOUVER -- The tune-ups are done -- now comes the game for which Kevin Martin and his Canadian Olympic men's curling team have been waiting.

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VANCOUVER -- The tune-ups are done -- now comes the game for which Kevin Martin and his Canadian Olympic men's curling team have been waiting.

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This article was published 20/02/2010 (6003 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VANCOUVER — The tune-ups are done — now comes the game for which Kevin Martin and his Canadian Olympic men’s curling team have been waiting.

The Canadians rolled to their fifth straight round-robin win Friday afternoon at the Vancouver Olympic Centre, hammering Ulrik Schmidt of Denmark 10-3 to maintain sole possession of first place in the 10-team tournament.

Next on the agenda: Tonight’s showdown with Britain’s David Murdoch, who’s won four straight games over Martin, including the world championship final last April in Moncton, N.B.

PHIL.HOSSACK@FREEPRESS.MB.CA
Canadian skip Kevin Martin guides sweepers Marc Kennedy (right) and Ben Hebert (left) against Denmark Friday at Vancouver Olympics. — PHIL.HOSSACK@FREEPRESS.MB.CA Canadian skip Kevin Martin guides sweepers Marc Kennedy (right) and Ben Hebert (left) against Denmark Friday at Vancouver Olympics.

The Brits had a bye on Friday, and are 2-2 going into this morning’s game against Fengchun Wang of China.

Against Denmark, Martin, third John Morris, second Mark Kennedy and lead Ben Hebert dictated things from the first end on. The Danes were forced to draw for a single in the first end, and Canada took its first lead in the second, scoring two when Johnny Frederiksen, who throws last rocks, was light on his last stone. Martin had no chance to score three, so he threw his last rock through the rings.

After forcing Denmark to another one in the third — Martin delivering a long runback takeout to erase the possibility of a multiple score — the tide turned for good in the fourth when a series of misses allowed Martin to make an open hit to score five.

It’s the second straight game Canada has rung up a five-ender; they did it in Thursday night’s 12-5 win over Thomas Dufour of France.

In women’s play, Canada’s Cheryl Bernard moved to 4-0 with a 5-4 extra-end victory over Denmark.