Olympics: Martin's hopes are dashed by Germans

Winter Olympics: Curling team admit failure as British quartet's qualification chances slip away

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Rhona Martin, skip of the British women's curling team, is nicknamed Mrs Merton, partly in tribute to the comedic chat-show hostess, but there was no hint of jollity from her here yesterday as her side effectively lost sight of a medal chance in losing their last round-robin game to Germany, 7-5.

The defeat leaves the Scottish quartet out of the top four qualifying places, and their only hope of retaining an active interest in the 19th Winter Games is for Switzerland, who made certain of reaching the semi-finals with a 7-6 victory over the previously unbeaten Canadians yesterday, to defeat Germany in the final round of matches.

Martin, her face stony with disappointment, was not holding out any serious hopes. "We're out," she said. "Both teams will be trying, but Switzerland will not do us any favours because they're already through. If they'd lost to the United States today, it would have been a different situation."

She reflected regretfully upon the opportunity her team had had before defeats in their final two qualifying matches saw them slide out of contention. The previous evening's loss to the United States, where Britain allowed the hosts to win on an extra end despite being two shots up going into the final end, was the one which clearly caused her most distress.

"The Germans played well today and we couldn't get back into it when we needed to. But the game against the States was definitely where we lost our chance," she said. "We should have won. We came here last night needing to win one of our last two matches. To lose both is so disappointing. It was in our hands ­ it's a pity it's come to this."

She highlighted the fourth end as being a crucial point in the match, where, despite gaining two to take a 3-2 lead, she felt she could have earned another shot which would have put Britain in a dominant position. "There was a chance of getting a three and we drifted for a two," she said. "If we'd got three it might have made a difference ­ but I didn't. We just didn't take our chances."

Asked if she would be watching the Switzerland-Germany game when it took place later that evening, she offered the questioner a look that might have turned him to something you curl with. "No," she said. "I've no idea what I will be doing, but I won't be watching."

Victory will assure the Germans of the final available semi-final place alongside Canada, Switzerland and the United States. Should Germany lose, however, they would be involved in a play-off with Britain and ­ assuming they beat the bottom placed Russians in their final match, Sweden. That scenario, however, was one which Martin and her team-mates Janice Rankin, Fiona MacDonald and Debbie Knox were not even contemplating.

Considering they were only sixth in the last European Championships and rank seventh in the world, the British quartet have more than lived up to expectations. But as with the last British women's team at the Nagano Games, which missed making the final by an inch and then narrowly lost out in the bronze-medal play off match, it looks as if Martin's team will look back on Salt Lake as the land of missed opportunity.