It was a tremendous performance fuelled by strong Aussie spirit, which they can be very proud of despite the final result.

Trailing by five at the halfway mark Australia used their powerplay in the fifth end. The powerplay has been a bright spot for Tahli and Dean so far, as they’ve taken three points from the powerplay on multiple occasions in their Olympic campaign.

That again is what they delivered in this match against Great Britain, as Tahli’s last throw in the fifth end pulled Australia within striking distance of the world champions with three ends to play.

The comeback was well and truly on when the Aussie curling duo followed that up with another two points in the sixth end to level the scores.

Great Britain saved their powerplay for the seventh end and gained a two-point advantage from it, which required Tahli and Dean to again do something special in the last end for victory.

Australia managed the eighth end beautifully and closed it out with the two points they needed to force an extra round.

In the extra end Great Britain regained control to finish the match at 9-8 with a stone to spare.

“We've had a few very close games now which came down to last rock either in the eighth end or extra end, so we're really close at the moment," Dean said.

"You're just like, half a shot away, honestly.

“We just have to kind of keep battling and hopefully get on the other side of things in the next game.

“I've got blisters everywhere and my heart-rate monitor is sky-high."

Great Britain’s mixed doubles curlers, Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat, are the current world champions. They had their first loss of the tournament yesterday against Switzerland and came out determined to atone for it against Australia, having built a 6-1 lead after four ends.

Earlier today the Aussies gave Sweden’s curlers all they could handle, as they the survived the fast-finishing Aussie pair to come away with a 7-6 victory. Of Tahli and Dean's opening five matches, four have been decided by one point.

Australia has now passed the halfway mark in their round robin competition. With four matches to go, they next take on Norway on Saturday 5 February at 12:05pm AEDT and Italy at 5:05pm AEDT.

Jeff Dickinson-Fox

#HaveAGo