THE Scotland men’s curling team have successfully defended their European title in Aberdeen.

The defending champions faced current Olympic champions Sweden in Saturday afternoon’s men’s gold medal final of the European Curling Championships.

It marked a re-match of the Olympic final in Beijing 2022 where the Scots won Silver.

They went one better this time though with skip Bruce Mouat savouring an “extra special” success.

It also marked a first major title on home ice as the Scots triumphed 6-5.

As well as Mouat, the team was made up of Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie and Hammy McMillan.

Speaking after the match, Mouat said: “It is nice to have our first championship at home with the four of us, to get the trophy it is extra special.

“Being in Scotland and having the chance to have a lot of family and friends that don’t normally get to watch us, it is really nice to have them all here and supporting.

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“We are going to have a really good party. The crowed were amazing during that final. I am pretty proud of this team, four wins from four Europeans.

“If you told us that at the start of our journey together in 2017, that would have been mad. I’m so excited.”

The Swedes provided a formidable obstacle to the hosts’ dreams, particularly after they had already defeated Scotland at the last Winter Olympics.

Vice-skip Hardie said after the game: “Coming in to the event we maybe weren’t playing our best, we had two poor events out in Canada, so to come here and return to top form is great.

“We are wanting to stay at the top of the game, get back to the top of the world rankings as well so that is probably the next goal before the end of the year.”