Amazing drama at jam-packed Schools Cup 2019 Senior Finals

15th March 2019

George Watson’s College and Dollar Academy were the victors in the senior Cup finals at the Schools Cup in Glasgow.

There were trophy lifts for Hutchesons’ Grammar, Strathallan, Mary Erskine School, Fettes College, Trinity, Merchiston Castle, Perth Schools, and St Margaret’s at a jam-packed Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

Loretto 1-1 (0 – 2) George Watson’s College

It was a nail-biting shoot out to separate the sides in the Senior Boys’ Cup final, and it was George Watson’s College who came out on top with a 2-0 win.

It was a great game from the outset and an early penalty corner for Loretto produced an excellent triple save under tremendous pressure.

Then almost immediately George Watson’s charged forward through Euan Burgess and a fantastic block on the line prevented a goal in a fast and furious opening to the contest.

The deadlock was eventually broken when a penalty flick was awarded to George Watson’s College. Rory Evans stepped up to strike and sent the ball into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0.

Loretto had a couple of penalty corners as half time approached but some solid defending kept the ball out, with the score remaining 1-0 at half time.

A penalty corner opportunity early in the second half saw Burgess denied for George Watson’s College by an excellent diving save low at the right post.

Loretto made some head way down the left and it took some solid goalkeeping to block a fizzed ball to the far post where a forward was waiting to finish.

Charlie Jack was denied a penalty corner goal for Loretto by a tremendous diving save at the top left corner.

Jack wouldn’t be denied for long and it was he who sailed a penaty corner into the roof of the net for Loretto to level the scores at 1-1.

Hamish McLean very nearly gave Loretto the lead with a lovely turn and shot, but an excellent save denied the goal at the top left corner.

A late surge by Loretto was kept at bay by the goalkeeper and the match went to running penalties.

It was a nail-biting shoot out but George Watson’s College came out on top with a 2-0 win to lift the cup.

Dollar 1-0 Glasgow Academy

A fiercely close and competitive Senior Girls’ Cup final ended up with a 1-0 win for Dollar over Glasgow Academy at Schools Cup 2019.

Dollar looked sprightly in the early stages as they broke forward at pace to try and create the game’s opening chance. It led to a penalty corner but broke down after a good defensive charge by the Glasgow Academy defence.

It was Dollar again creating a good chance on the counter attack but the final shot on the reverse zipped past the left post.

Glasgow Academy started to cause problems of their own and very nearly took the lead. Aisha Saini hit the bar when she deflected a penalty corner towards goal with five minutes of the half remaining.

It was a close and competitive start to the second half with both sides battling hard, but cancelling each other out.

A succession of Dollar penalty corners eventually concluded with the third effort flying just wide of the top left corner.

With five minutes remaining Dollar eventually broke the deadlock when the ball was scrambled home by Rhiannon Carr from a penalty corner. 1-0.

Glasgow Academy went on a late surge to find an equaliser but Dollar was able to hold out and lift the trophy at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

Hutchesons’ Grammar School 2-0 Edinburgh Academy

Hutchesons’ Grammar School won the Senior Girls’ Plate with an excellent 2-0 victory over Edinburgh Academy at Schools’ Cup 2019.

It was a very even opening to the contest with chances created at both ends of the pitch.

Edinburgh Academy’s Misha Haydock came close to opening the scoring with a delightful shot across goal, but it zipped just wide of the left post.

Hutcheson’s Grammar opened the scoring with five minutes of the first half remaining. Tia Mansbridge scored the goal when she forced the ball over the line at a scramble following a penalty corner. 1-0.

Hutchesons’ Grammar doubled their lead early in the second half when Mansbridge bagged her second with a powerful shot to make it 2-0.

Edinburgh Academy went on a late attack, going to kicking back, but Hutcheson’s Grammar were solid and clocked up a great final victory at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

Strathallan 6-1 Aberdeen Grammar

The Senior Boys’ Plate was won by Strathallan with a fantastic 6-1 victory over Aberdeen Grammar at Schools’ Cup 2019.

It was a great start for Strathallan as they took the game to Aberdeen Grammar from the first whistle.

Andrew Stirrat opened the scoring after a lovely floated ball over the top prompted a scramble in the D, which Stirrat coverted for 1-0 to Strathallan.

Stirrat quickly added a second when he shot home from the top of the D to make it 2-0.

Aberdeen Grammar then pulled it back to 2-1 with a great penalty corner strike by Gregor Morrison low against the backboard.

As half time approached Strathallan banged home another goal to make it 3-1 and maintain their lead in the contest.

Strathallan added a fourth when a dangerous pass into the D was deflected into the net by an Aberdeen Grammar defender. 4-1.

Ben Lidderbridge made it 5-1 with two minutes remaining when she slipped the ball over the goalkeeper from close range at the near post.

Then Rory Bayne forced the ball home with 30 seconds remaining to make it 6-1.

 

Mary Erskine School 5-0 Kilgraston

A great performance by Mary Erskine School saw them lift the Senior Girls’ Bowl after a 5-0 win over Kilgraston.

It was a great start to the match for Mary Erskine and they took the lead through a penalty corner strike by Isla Jackson.

Mary Erskine nearly scored again when Ellie MacKenzie came close but a great diving save denied a second goal.

The second goal soon came when Niamh Burns finished from a penalty corner to make it 2-0 for Mary Erskine.

Some tremendous build up play by Mary Erskine was only matched by some outstanding goalkeeping by Kara MacRitchie to keep the score at 2-0.

Mary Erskine advanced their lead from a slick penalty corner routine that saw Isla Jackson tap home to make it 3-0.

There was the opportunity for Mary Erskine to advance their lead when they were awarded a penalty flick, MacKenzie stepped up to strike it but an exceptional save denied the strike.

Mary Erskine wouldn’t be denied for long and it was Ava Findlay who made it 4-0, making the match more comfortable for her side.

Then Ellie Rutherford made it 5-0 for Mary Erskine as the clock ticked down with a close range finish.

Bellahouston/GSOS 0-1 Fettes College

Fettes College won a close Senior Boys’ Bowl final with a 1-0 victory over Bellahouston/GSOS at the Schools’ Cup.

It was a competitive opening to the match with both teams looking confident and assured on the ball. Despite some top hockey being played by both sides clear cut chances were few and far between.

The deadlock was eventually broken just before half time, a sublime pass into the D was deflected goal ward prompting an exceptional save by Logan McClure. The ball broke kindly to Matthew Houston who prodded the ball home for 1-0.

The tight contest continued into the second half with both sides cancelling each other out with competitive play.

Glasgow School of Sport began to pile on the pressure as the game entered the final phase

Trinity 5-1 Albyn

Trinity won the Aspire Girls’ Plate final on pitch 2 with a great 5-1 victory over Albyn at Schools Cup 2019.

Good start to the match for Trinity as they applied pressure to the Albyn goal in the early stages. Albyn defended well to keep the attacks at bay.

Trinity continued to try and play their way into the Albyn D but was met by a solid Albyn wall. Despite the Trinity pressure Albyn played a solid defence performance in the first half.

The Albyn resistance was eventually overcome early in the second half when Trinity’s Charlotte Drainer slipped the ball low against the backboard from the middle of the D. 1-0.

The goal prompted a goal flurry with a succession of quick strikes. Albyn immediately went up the pitch and equalised through a penalty corner goal by Ella White.

Trinity followed up this goal with another great finish by Jennifer Veitch to make it 2-1 five minutes into the second half.

It went to 3-1 with a lovely far post finish by Evie Currie to advance Trinity’s lead, before it went to 4-1 through a penalty corner goal by Jodie Williamson at the second attempt.

Trinity scored again through Mhairi Harper when a 50/50 in the D saw the ball loop over the diving goalkeeper to make it 5-1.

 

McLaren 0-3 Merchiston Castle

It was a 3-0 victory for Merchiston Castle in the Aspire Boys’ Plate final against McLaren High School on pitch 2.

Merchiston Castle got off to a good start in this game and enjoyed more possession although McLaren were dangerous on the counter attack.

As the half continued McLaren started to look the part and probed the Merchiston Castle D.

But it was Merchiston Castle who opened the scoring with a great strike on the reverse by Owain Ashley to make it 1-0.

Early in the second half it went to 2-0 for Merchiston Castle through an excellent well-worked goal finished off by Angus Sloss.

Merchiston Castle really showed they had found their range when they advanced their lead to 3-0 with a solid strike from the top of the D.

3-0 was how it finished and Merchiston Castle lifted the Aspire Boys’ Plate at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

Perth Schools 2-1 Grove Academy

The Aspire Boys’ Cup was a tight encounter that was eventually won by Perth Schools in a 2-1 win over Grove Academy.

Grove Academy looked strong in the early stages and played some nice hockey in the Perth Schools half.

Perth Schools took the lead early in the second half and it was a lovely goal after a slick pass from the right into the D, diverted goal ward by Euan Lennox to make it 1-0.

It went to 2-0 for Perth Schools’ when Lewis McGregor doubled their advantage with a close range finish at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

Grove Academy began their fight back and got a goal back through a penalty stroke. Keir Robb stepped up to strike and dispatched clinically to pull it back to 2-1.

For the final stages Grove Academy peppered the Perth Schools goal but couldn’t find an equaliser, and the team from Perth took the trophy.

 

St Margaret’s 1-7 Perth Schools

It was a sensational performance by Perth Schools in the Aspire Girls’ Cup to lift the trophy after a 7-1 victory.

Perth Schools got off to a flying start with Ruth Blaikie causing all sorts of problems to the St Margaret’s defence.

It took seven minutes for the opening goal and it came through a penalty corner finish by Lucy Park to make it 1-0.

A few minutes later and it went to 2-0 with the impressive Blaikie adding her name to the score sheet from the penalty spot.

St Margaret’s struck one back when Eilidh Campbell scored to make it 2-1.

Katie Gregory then made it 3-1 for Perth Schools before Iona Fleming struck a fourth to further the Perthshire lead.

Blaikie then went on an amazing solo run before finishing with a low strike for 5-1.

Goals from Olivia Elliott and Ailsa Davidson rounded off the scoring to give Perth Schools a great 7-1 win in the Aspire Girls’ Cup.

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