Grand Finals spots confirmed after exciting playoffs action

Edinburgh University will take on Watsonians in tomorrow’s women’s Grand Final and Western Wildcats face Grange in the men’s Grand Final.

Also on the card is the men’s Premiership National League promotion / relegation match between Dunfermline Carnegie and Grove Menzieshill; and on Pitch 2 in the Men’s Regional League Playoff Uddingston 2s and Greenock Morton meet before the Women’s Championship League Playoff between Waverley Inveresk Trinity and Grange Edinburgh Ladies 2s.

Women’s Premiership semi-final – Edinburgh University 5-2 Western Wildcats

Edinburgh University will play in the Grand Finals after defeating Western Wildcats 5-2 at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

The game got off to a fast start and the high tempo continued throughout the quarter.

Jika Nyirenda was causing problems for Edinburgh University with direct powerful running into the circle, but to no avail.

Western Wildcats looked promising at the outset of the second quarter with good pressure around the university circle.

An Edinburgh University counter attack was almost converted by Louise Campbell with a lovely looping effort on the reverse, but it landed just wide of the far post.

Then the opener came in favour of Edinburgh University. Ava Findlay showed great composure in the circle when she picked out Nyirenda who slammed the ball into the bottom corner for 1-0.

Edinburgh University doubled their lead and it was Nyirenda who delivered a second. A penalty stroke was awarded and Nyirenda made no mistake when she fired the ball into the bottom right corner for 2-0.

Right on the half time mark Becky Bruce pulled one back for Western Wildcats. Bruce was the injector at a penalty corner, the ball was promptly returned to Bruce who slotted home from a tight angle. 2-1.

Moments later and it was 2-2, and again it was Bruce with a carbon copy of the opener, slotting home from a tight angle.

Edinburgh University retook the lead in the third quarter when a swift counter attack by Amy Brodie saw her pick out Campbell at the near post, who finished on the reverse for 3-2.

Early in the fourth quarter and Edinburgh looked to put the game to bed through a wonderful finish by Brodie. The powerful effort zipped across goal into the far corner for 4-2.

Nyirenda bagged her hat-trick late in the game from the penalty spot, her second stroke of the game, with a finish to the left for 5-2.

 

 

Women’s Premiership semi-final – Watsonians 4-0 Clydesdale Western

Ruthless finishing by Watsonians saw them secure their place in tomorrow’s Grand Final with a 4-0 win over Clydesdale Western.

The first quarter was tight with Watsonians edging the play. The Edinburgh side fashioned a couple of half chances but unable capitalise.

As the quarter reached a close Sarah Jamieson came into the equation for Watsonians. Jamieson picked up the ball on the left of the circle, went twisting and turning in front of goal, before slamming a low shot against the backboard for 1-0.

Clydesdale Western started the second quarter well and good work by Holly Steiger won her side a penalty corner, which ultimately zipped just wide of the mark.

The Clydesdale pressure was hit by a sucker punch when a Watsonians break saw the ball played in from the right to Katie MacCallum, who finished low for 2-0.

Marjory Justice had a chance to pull one back for Clydesdale Western in the third quarter but her deflected effort went just wide of the left post.

The final quarter saw the Watsonians press pin Clydesdale Western back with the Glasgow side struggling to get out their half.

The press allowed Watsonians to bag a third goal when the ball found its way to Jamieson who slotted the ball home from close range for 3-0.

Moments later MacCallum slammed home a fourth on the reverse at the far post to make it 4-0.

 

Men’s Premiership semi-final – Western Wildcats 4-2 Edinburgh University

Western Wildcats beat Edinburgh University 4-2 to book their place in tomorrow’s men’s Grand Final.

Edinburgh University got off to a great start when they took an early lead through a penalty corner routine. Robbie Croll picked out John Stephen sliding in to deflect into the net for 1-0.

The tempo and pressure from Edinburgh University saw them settle as Western Wildcats looked to edge into the contest.

In the second quarter Western enjoyed good spells of possession but found the Edinburgh University defence well organised, and difficult to break down.

Edinburgh University had the chance to double their advantage from the penalty spot. Iain McFadden stepped up to strike but Gavin Sommerville in goal for Western got down to his right post to save and keep the score at 1-0.

Sommerville was called into action again as half time approached. A drag flick from Croll looked net bound but Sommerville got down to his right again to save at pace.

Early in the second half Sommerville was called into action again with a great near post block as McFadden was waiting at the far post for a tap in.

Western Wildcats got an equaliser late in the third quarter and it came through a lovely scooped finish by Johnny Christie to make it 1-1.

The tide turned when Western was awarded a penalty. Andy McConnell stepped up to bury it low and give his side a 2-1 lead.

In the final quarter the Edinburgh University effort appeared to catch up with them and Western Wildcats began to dominate.

Keir Robb burst forward on a counter for Edinburgh University and struck the outside of the goal from a tight angle.

Western Wildcats sealed the contest after Edinburgh University took off their keeper. It was Rob Harwood who slotted home into the empty goal for 3-1.

Then Adam MacKenzie made it 4-1 late in the contest when he cleared space for himself to finish into the empty net.

There was a late consolation for Edinburgh University when Costa Stylianou finished well on the turn for 4-2.

 

 

Men’s Premiership semi-final – Grange 8-2 Clydesdale

Eight goals for Grange saw them into tomorrow’s Grand Final as they beat Clydesdale 8-2 in the men’s playoff.

The game got off to a blistering start with an avalanche of goals.

It was an early lead for Clydesdale went 1-0 up. Johnny Bradley sunk a penalty corner into the roof of the net with a superb finish in the opening minute.

Then Grange equalised. Jacob Tweedie went on a great run towards the circle and picked out Murray Banks, before the low finish converted by David Nairn. 1-1.

Grange took the lead soon after and the goal came from a low penalty corner strike by Dylan Bean for 2-1

In the second quarter Clydesdale equalised. Another penalty corner opportunity allowed Andrew Allan to fire a powerful shot, which deflected off a Grange stick, into the net. 2-2.

A sensational goal put Grange back in front. Callum Lothian deflected a tremendous first time pass into the circle into the top left corner of the net. 3-2.

In the third quarter Aiden McQuade advanced the Grange lead with a low drag flick to make it 4-2.

At the end of the third quarter it went to 5-2 when a cut back deflected off a Clydesdale stick and found its way into the back of the net.

In the final quarter it wen to 6-2 when Bean ran through at an empty goal as Clydesdale took off their keeper to gain an outfield advantage.

David Nairn, moments later, was allowed to do the exact same thing with a clear run through on an empty net to make it 7-2.

A penalty stroke in the final minutes allowed Bean to strike home for his hat-trick and an 8-2 win for Grange.

 

Tickets and live stream

Tickets are £5 for a day of top-level Scottish hockey action with Scotland’s best teams and players on show. Tickets are available HERE.

The Grand Finals will live streamed with all matches on Pitch 1 broadcast live. The matches will be live streamed on Watch.Hockey with pay-per-view set at £5.

 

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