Amazing action at Junior Schools Cup 2019

Mary Erskine School and Strathallan were the Junior Schools’ Cup 2019 in a great day of schools hockey. George Watson’s College and Fettes College were also trophy winners at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

Mary Erskine School 6-0 George Heriot’s School

Mary Erskine School put in a sensational performance to lift the Junior Girls’ Cup in a 6-0 victory over George Heriot’s School.

It was a lightning start and Mary Erskine School came out at pace and took a lead early in the contest. Jenny Ballantyne scoring the opener.

It quickly went to 2-0 at a penalty corner when Eliza Tetley forced the ball over the line right under the crossbar.

A third goal looked likely but some excellent goalkeeping by George Heriot’s Maddy Boyes kept them at bay.

The third goal wouldn’t take long however and it was Bethan Hastie who tapped the ball home despite a valiant effort by Boyes in goal.

Then Ava Allan slammed the ball home to make it 4-0 for Mary Erskine to forge a comfortable lead in the first half.

It went to 5-0 for Mary Erskine in the second half when Hastie spun and slipped her second of the match into the net.

The scoring was finished off when Antonia Zambornardi was sent through one-on-one for Mary Erskine and after slipping the ball low into the bottom right corner, her side found themselves in a strong 6-0 lead.

Strathallan 4-0 Fettes College

Strathallan were the Junior Boys’ Cup Final champions in a superb 4-0 victory over Fettes College in Glasgow.

It was a good start to the contest by Fettes, they went charging on the attack from the first whistle. The Strathallan defence was doing a great job of halting the Fettes progression and restricted any clear opportunities to a minimum.

Strathallan opened the scoring midway through the first half. A slick attack down the right saw the ball fizzed into the D, it took a wicked deflection off a Fettes defender and ended up in the back of the net for 1-0.

Fettes went on the attack and Sam Walford was denied from a great shot on the turn by a tremendous save by Nic Hadland in goal for Strathallan.

Hadland was on top form and denied Fettes with a number of outstanding saves to keep his side in the lead at half time.

Early in the second half and Strathallan went 2-0 up. Adam Anderson thundered a low strike against the backboard to give his side a two-goal cushion.

Fettes was awarded a penalty stroke but Hadland padded the ball wide of the top right corner and Strathallan kept their lead intact. Then some more excellent goalkeeping by Hadland kept Fettes at bay – a top goalkeeping performance.

Strathallan then scored a tremendous goal to seal the victory. A long inch-perfect pass found Anderson in the D with one defender to beat; Anderson skipped past him and slid the ball past the advancing goalkeeper to make it 3-0.

Then with 30 seconds remaining Archie Rankin scooped the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 4-0 and a great Strathallan victory.

Fettes College 7-0 Peebles

Fettes College were the Junior Girls’ Plate champions after an excellent 7-0 win over Peebles in the final.

It was a great first half for Fettes as they raced into a four goal lead. Isabella Usher opened the scoring with a field goal in nine minutes.

The impressive Usher scored her, and her teams’, second goal from a short corner on 16 minutes. A minute later and Amara Maddison made it 3-0 with a lovely finish from open play.

Usher was causing all sorts of problems for the Peebles defence and then clocked up two quick-fire strikes to make it 6-0. First a swift break forward with a close range finish; then a delightful strike by Usher finishing off a sweeping passing move to make it 6-0.

Maissa Maclean then rounded off the scoring with another slick passing move for 7-0.

Peebles went on a late attack and fashioned a series of openings, especially from two penalty corners, but Fettes was resolute and held onto a clean sheet.

Kelvinside Academy 1-3 George Watson’s College

It was a sensational Junior Girls’ Bowl final in which George Watson’s College took the spoils with a 3-1 win over Kelvinside Academy.

It was a great early goal to get the contest underway with George Watson’s College striking from close range to make it 1-0.

Kelvinside came close to an equaliser after some nice build up at a penalty corner, but the chance for a strike at goal eluded them.

George Watson’s penalty corner well saved by leg guards but they quickly won the chance for another attempt from a penalty corner. Anabella Martin had the follow up penalty corner cleared off the line.

As half time approached George Watson’s College bagged a second goal to make it 2-0 at half time.

Anna Burnet nearly got the second half off to a lightning start when her shot zipped past the left post.

It led to a penalty flick, which Burnet took herself, but an excellent save to the left kept the score at 2-0.

George Watson’s continued to pepper the Kelvinside goal as the match progressed, hitting the post on a couple of occasions.

With nine minutes remaining Kelvinside pulled one back with a well-earned Amy Turpie strike to make it 2-1.

The Kelvinside strike made for an intense end to the match with the game charging from end-to-end.

With under a minute to play Kiera Scott put the result beyond any doubt when she finished off a quick break down the right with a far post tap in.

George Watson’s College 2-2 (3-1) Glenalmond

The Junior Boys’ Bowl was settled by a nerve-jangling running penalties shootout with George Watson’s College lifting the trophy 3-1, after a 2-2 draw.

George Watson’s College got off to an absolute flyer with two early goals. The first strike came from a penalty corner blasted into the goal for 1-0.

The first was quickly followed up by a battling second goal. It was like pin ball in the D before the ball was forced home to give George Watson’s College a second goal.

Glenalmond then pulled one back with a tremendous penalty corner strike, which saw the ball deflected into the top left corner of the net. 2-1.

There was an equaliser soon after from another well-worked penalty corner, this time it was squeezed across the goalkeeper and in at the post. 2-2.

George Watson’s made a bright start to the second half but were unable to convert it into goals. Glenalmond came back strong and fashioned some opportunities of their own. It was clearly going to be a close end to the match.

George Watson’s nearly snatched the lead with two minutes remaining when a penalty corner routine trickled past the post.

After a nail-biting end the match went to running penalties, and then the tension really ramped up. George Watson’s took the victory with a 3-1 win in the shootout to lift the trophy.

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