Scotland continued their winning momentum at the World Men’s Curling Championship in Utah with a 7-2 triumph over Poland.

Ross Whyte’s rink, defending the title won by Bruce Mouat’s rink last year, recovered from opening defeats by Sweden and Japan with victories against Canada and the United States before securing a third successive win.

They led 4-0 after the first two ends and a three in the fifth end made it 7-1 at the halfway stage.

Konrad Stych’s Poland team, ranked 90th in the world, came into the contest off the back of their first ever world championship victory having beaten Germany 11-4, and although they scored a one in the seventh end, the contest ended with them five points behind Scotland.

The Scots are up to third in the round-robin standings with three wins from five, behind Niklas Edin’s Swedes and Marco Hoesli’s Swiss rink, who are both unbeaten after four and three matches, respectively.

Whyte and his rink of Robin Brydone, Euan Kyle and Craig Waddell are representing Scotland after Mouat, who is currently ranked first in the world, elected not to compete in this edition after their silver medal for Great Britain at the Olympics in Cortina last month.

The second and third ranked sides in the world, Brad Jacobs’ Canadians, who beat Team GB to Olympic gold, and Yannick Schwaller’s Switzerland are also not competing in Utah.