Cougars on the prowl at Futures Cup

Day two for the Cougars in St Albans at Futures Cup is always a pivotal day.  It sees the last of the group games played and teams find out where they finish in their three-team group. First place means a final appearance, second a bronze medal match and third a fifth / sixth place play off.

In Saturday’s placement matches the four Cougars teams will compete in one final, two bronze medal matches, and one 5th/6th play off.

 Game 1, Boys under 17: Caledonian Cougars 1 Wessex Leopards 6       

The Aspiring Cougars slumped to a second straight defeat after they were caught cold by a strong Wessex team. The Scots conceded 2 goals in the first four minutes and things got worse as they found themselves four down at half time. The second half saw a distinct improvement, with a Fraser Allan strike from a penalty corner giving the Cougars a consolation goal as the Leopards ran out comfortable winners. The boys will now face a 5th / 6th play off with the Celtic Jaguars on Saturday morning.

Game 2, Girls under 15/16: Caledonian Cougars 3 Wessex Leopards 3

The Emerging girls led three times in the match only to be pegged back at the death by a last-minute equaliser. Anna Warnock gave the Cougars an early lead, before the Leopards equalised to make it 1-1 at half time. Imogen Shields reclaimed the lead, only to be levelled again a the end of the third period. Sophie Anderson must have thought she had netted the winner with 2 minutes remaining, only to be robbed of victory by a last-minute Wessex equaliser. Fortunately for the young Cougars a draw was enough to secure a finals spot against the free scoring Saxon Tigers on Saturday afternoon.

Game 3, Boys under 15/16: Caledonian Cougars 4 Celtic Jaguars 0

The Emerging boys team delivered a strong performance against their Welsh rivals running out comfortable winners in the end. After a goal-less first quarter the Cougars took the lead through Murray Griffiths and led 1-0 at the half time break. Two goals in the third quarter for Owen Hunter and Griffiths again put the Cougars in easy street, before Sam Hunt put the icing on the cake with a fourth before the finish. They will now contest the bronze medal match tomorrow afternoon with the Pennine Pumas.

Game 4, Girls under 17: Caledonian Cougars 1 Saxon Tigers 0

The Aspiring girls won a tense affair with their London rivals. A single strike from captain Zara Kennedy early in the fourth quarter was enough to give the girls the win. This group was the tightest in the competition with all three teams finishing with one win and one loss and identical goal difference of zero. Unfortunately the girls were pipped for the top spot in the group by the Leopards on goals scored. As a result they will feature in the bronze medal third and fourth place play off against the Pennine Pumas.

Another exciting day of youth hockey awaits.

Photographs: David P McCarthy

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