Scotland edge closer to World Curling play-offs

WARWICK Smith was left rueful after seeing the United States come from behind to snatch a valuable victory at the men's World Curling Championship in Cortina d'Ampezzo.

DISAPPOINTMENT: Scotland lost to the USA but bounced back to beat hosts Italy, edging closer to the play-offs at the World Curling Championships

The Scottish skip, who fractionally missed a chance to claim what would have been a decisive three in the ninth, still led going into the tenth and final end.

But opposite number Pete Fenson used his hammer advantage to full effect to claim a three with his final stone, for a 7-5 win that had long looked unlikely.

Smith immediately bounced back with a confident 10-4 victory over Italy to move to third in the overall standings with seven wins from nine matches.

Thomas Ulsrud's Norway and Kevin Koe's Canada - who have only lost once - look likely to contest the top game in the page play-offs while Smith's rink - David Smith, Craig Wilson and Ross Hepburn - face Japan and Switzerland on Thursday, needing only one win to guarantee their place in the medal mix.