Canada's Einarson tops Italy, falls to Norway on opening day of curling worlds

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — Canada's Kerri Einarson ran hot and cold at the women's world curling championship Saturday to emerge with a 1-1 record on opening day.

The host country fell 6-4 to Norway after dominating Italy 9-2. The Canadians take on newcomer Turkey and defending champion Switzerland on Sunday.

Led by Einarson's mastery of draw weight, Canada stole seven points against the Italians, who conceded after the sixth end.

Einarson and third Val Sweeting weren't as sharp drawing or hitting against the Norwegians, who stole three points over the first two ends and stole another in the sixth to lead 5-2.

"Just a little bit of overthrowing tonight," Einarson said. "I think we'll talk about it. There's some shots we'd like to cover over I'm sure. We're 1-1 first day and it's going to be a grind all week."

Canada faced mixed doubles specialists in both games Saturday.

Italian skip Stefania Constantini won Olympic gold in Beijing last month with Amos Mosaner.

Kristin Skaslien, who throws fourth stones for Norwegian skip Marianne Roervik, and teammate Magnus Nedregotten lost to the Italians in that final in Beijing.

Einarson shot 96 per cent against Italy and her team was 88 per cent overall.

The Canadian skip made 95 per cent of her draws in the first game, but was only 60 per cent on the draw in the evening draw compared to Skaslien's 94.

Sweeting was outcurled positionally by Roervik throwing third stones 78 per cent to 65.

Canada scored one point in the seventh and stole another in the eighth to make up ground on the Norwegians, but couldn't generate a multi-point end coming home.

"There's no reason to get worried after this game," second Shannon Birchard said. "We battled back and did what we could and it's a new