CALA PROVE VICTORIOUS IN U16 GIRLS NATIONAL COMPETITOIN

Glasgow National Hockey Centre played host to the U16 Girls National Competition on Saturday 11^th June. This competition saw teams from throughout the country, Inverleith, Western Wildcats, CALA, Kelso, Granite City Wanderers and Watsonians.

CALA got off to a bright start with a tremendous 9-0 victory over Western Wildcats with the captain Susan Rome scoring a hat-trick and Emma Spencer netting a brace. Elsewhere in Pool A, Inverleith claimed a 3-0 victory over East rivals Watsonians with Katie Swanson, Aimee Gray and Isla Jackson claiming the goals.

It was now the team from North, Granite City Wanderers to impress and they defeated a hard working Western Wildcats side by 2-0. Both goals coming from number 8 Ellie Lewis. On pitch 2 Inverleith were looking to continue their winning but were held by a determined Kelso side with the match finishing 1-1.

In the final games of the group stages Granite City Wanderers and CALA were battling for 1^st position in the pool. Neither side could claim the goal that would make them out right winners of the group.  CALAs 9-0 triumph early in the day claimed top spot on goal difference with Granite City Wanderers taking second place and Western Wildcats in 3^rd.

Watsonians defeated Kelso 5-0 with Nisha Haydock scoring a brace with further goals from Hope McCallum, Heidi Floydd and Lucy Watt claiming the other 3 goals. This result meant that Inverleith topped the group with 4 points with Watsonians in second place and Kelso in 3^rd.

The placing games were next up and in the 5^th v 6^th playoff, Kelso were up against Western Wildcats. In what was a close contested match Kelso proved the stronger of the two teams coming out 3-1 winners.

In the 3^rd v 4^th playoff match Watsonians took on Granite City Wanderers. It was the team from the East who took an early lead after 3 minutes with the goal coming from Lucy Kidd. This proved to be the vital goal of the game as the score remained 1-0. Therefore Watsonians clinched 3^rd place with Granite City Wanderers finishing 4^th.

The final saw a battle from the East as Inverleith took on CALA. Both teams had played extremely well throughout the day and were looking to claim the title. Chances fell to both teams in the early stages but they were unable to convert these. It was in the 19^th minute when CALA took the lead through captain Susan Rome which brought her total to 4 goals for the day.

In the latter stages of the match Inverleith pressed for an equaliser and came close on a number of occasion only to be denied by the post 3 times in the closing 10 minutes. CALA were able to hold onto the lead and were victorious. Credit to both teams as it was a very well contested final.

Scores of the day were:

Pool A

Inverleith 3-0 Watsonains

Kelso 1-1 Inverleith

Watsonians 5-0 Kelso

Pool B

Western Wildcats 0-9 CALA

Granite City Wanderers 2-0 Western Wildcats

Granite City Wanderers 0-0 CALA

Final Placings

1^st– CALA

2^nd– Inverleith

3^rd– Watsonians

4^th– Granite City Wanderers

5^th– Kelso

6^th– Western Wildcats

Next Saturday 18^th June sees the Boys U16 National Competition take place at Peffermill. Come along and show your support.

Recent posts:

• Hillhead men and Glasgow University women make the top six cut
• The last Premiership matches before the winter break
• Clydesdale Western go top of the women`s Premiership
• Western men and Watsonians women are still in pole position in the Premiership
• Sarah Wilson wins FIH Umpire of the Year
• Scottish Hockey Heritage Group officially launches website
• Women`s Premiership double header with some crucial encounters
• Sunday's Men's Premiership Round Up
• Round Up of Saturday's Action in the Men's & Women's Premiership
• Scottish Hockey Announces Aspiring & Emerging Training Squads for the 2024/25 Cycle