European and Premiership spots confirmed at Grand Finals

Men’s Grand Final – Grange 0-2 Western Wildcats

Western Wildcats won the men’s Grand Final with a 2-0 win over Grange at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

It was a very even opening quarter and a very tight contest with no clear opportunities until late in the quarter.

The first opportunity fell to Western Wildcats, and it fell for Adam Mackenzie who swivelled and shot just wide of the far post.

The second quarter continued to see the sides nullify each other, although Callum Duke made positive efforts to step forward into midfield and create overloads for Western.

The third quarter saw the sides continue at stalemate, and the longer the game continued the more tense the contest became.

Early in the final quarter and Grange came agonisingly close to taking the lead when Dylan Bean smashed the ball off the post at a penalty corner.

Then with seven minutes remaining the opening goal arrived. Duke stepped forward to pick out Rob Harwood who was fouled for a penalty. Andy McConnell stepped up and absolutely buried the ball in the roof of the net for 1-0.

Moments later it went to 2-0. Mackenzie burst forward for Western and he picked out Johnny Christie, who showed amazing composure to return it to Mackenzie past the advancing goalkeeper, for a tap in.

Western looked comfortable with their two-goal cushion and were crowned Grand Final champions, claiming their place in next season’s EHL.

 

Women’s Grand Final – Watsonians 2-1 Edinburgh University

Watsonians won the women’s Grand Final with a 2-1 victory over Edinburgh University at the Glasgow National Hockey centre.

It was a tight opening to the match with the game not quite bursting into life. Then, as she often does, Sarah Jamieson took the game by the scruff of the neck and gave Watsonians the lead.

Jamieson opened the scoring when she went on a tremendous solo run, past three defenders, and fizzed a low shot against the backboard. 1-0.

Then Watsonians went two ahead. It came from a direct Susan Hamilton run and effort at goal, the rebound fell to Jamieson who rattled the ball into the top left corner for 2-0.

Edinburgh University enjoyed good pressure in the second quarter with Jess Ross in particular looking dangerous, but they were unable to threaten the Watsonians goal in the first half.

Watsonians continued to keep Edinburgh University at bay and it prompted the students to replace their goalkeeper for an outfield player. They had a chance to pull one back when the ball flashed across goal for Georgia Jones, but it evaded the attacker’s stick.

Then a penalty stroke went the way of Edinburgh University and Jika Nyirenda stepped up to finish with a low shot into the bottom left corner. 2-1.

Nyirenda came close with a drag flick with the last chance of the contest but her low effort went just wide and Watsonians were crowned champions.

 

Men’s Premiership National League promotion / relegation match – Dunfermline Carnegie 3-4 Grove Menzieshill

Grove Menzieshill was promoted to the men’s Premiership after a sensational 4-3 win over Dunfemline Carnegie.

It took four minutes for Grove Menzieshill to take the lead, and the goal came when Murray Griffiths picked out Ollie James in front of an empty goal to slot home for 1-0.

Carnegie battled back and nearly scored an equaliser when Andrew Doyle had a drag flick cleared off the line.

The equaliser for Carnegie came in the second corner, and it was Doyle with another drag flick that sailed high into the net for 1-1.

Right on half time Grove Menzieshill retook the lead. James took the ball with his back to goal and found the bottom right corner on the reverse to make it 2-1.

In the third quarter it nearly went to 3-1 but Gavin Byers was denied by not just one post, but two, before the ball was hooped clear.

John Donald eventually made it 3-1 to Grove Menzieshill when he converted a goal on the reverse at the second phase of a penalty corner.

Carnegie pulled one back early in the final quarter when a Michael Ross penalty corner strike deflected off a Grove Menzieshill stick and into the net. 3-2.

Then came the equaliser and it was Doyle who fired home from the top of the D at a penalty corner for 3-3.

Grove Menzieshill quickly went back ahead, and the goal was a screamer. Connor Chapman took the ball on the turn and unleashed an absolute rocket into the roof of the net for 4-3.

 

Men’s Regional League Playoff – Uddingston 2s 2-3 Greenock Morton

Greenock Morton came out on top of a feisty Men’s Regional League Playoff with a 3-2 win over Uddingston 2s to gain promotion at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

Uddingston 2s took the lead in the eighth minute when they buried a penalty stroke to go 1-0 ahead.

Greenock Morton then hit form and surged into a 3-1 lead. The equaliser came from Ben Peterson in the 17th minute with an open play strike.

A penalty corner routine in the 24th minute saw Peterson bag his, and Greenock Morton’s, second of the match and go 2-1 up.

Harry O’Donnell put them 3-1 up from the penalty spot ten minutes later and give his side a solid lead.

Uddingston 2s battled back and Andrew Docherty struck on 54 minutes to pull it back to 3-2.

A late Uddingston surge couldn’t find an equaliser and Greenock Morton took the victory, and gained promotion.

 

Women’s Championship League Playoff – Waverley Inveresk Trinity 2-2 (0-1) Grange Edinburgh Ladies 2s

Grange Edinburgh Ladies 2s won a close Women’s Championship League Playoff 1-0 on running penalties against Waverley Inveresk Trinity after a 2-2 draw at full time. The victory saw the side gain promotion in a highly entertaining contest.

Grange got off to a flying start when they struck an early goal to go 1-0 ahead, the strike came from Marianna MacLean in a frantic opening.

Waverley Inveresk Trinity were still in the game and clawed themselves level after 20 minutes when Sophie Gray equalised to make it 1-1.

It took a well-executed penalty corner by Abi Sanders-Dutton to put Grange 2s 2-1 ahead in the 63rd minute.

Waverley Inveresk Trinity was awarded a penalty stroke as the game neared its conclusion and Gray stepped up to bag her, and her sides, second goal of the contest.

A late rally from both sides couldn’t prevent the match going to penalties, and the tense shoot out was settles by a finish by Vic White to give Grange 2s a 1-0 win to secure promotion.

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