Grand Masters third in Pacific Rim tournament

 

With half the squad which had taken fourth place in the European Cup in August unavailable, it had always looked a difficult task for the Scotland Grand Masters (Over 60) to perform well in the Pacific Rim Tournament in Kuala Lumpur 26 August – 1 November. However new caps Neil Mackenzie and Ian McCreath, along with a number of ‘older caps’ drafted in to help make up the squad which still numbered only fourteen, rose to the occasion and helped the team to an unbeaten record in the tournament. Only goal difference had prevented their making the final, England pipping them to first place in the group after both sides had finished level on points, having shared a 1-1 draw in the opening match of the group.
Scotland had to be content with playing Asian Cup runners-up, Japan, for third place in the tournament on Sunday 1 November. In a match played in the steamy heat of the day, Scotland showed the benefit of the coaching of their new coach, Murray Paton, playing controlled, possession hockey even though the players were plainly exhausted through the heat and the aftermath of playing five matches and a friendly in a seven day period with a small squad. The only goal of the game was scored by Alistair Ogilvie (his fourth of the tournament, making him top scorer) and the Scots hung on to their advantage to claim third place.
Overall, this was a notable performance which gives Scotland Grand Masters every reason to look forward with confidence to taking a full squad to the World Cup in Australia in 2016

With half the squad which had taken fourth place in the European Cup in August unavailable, it had always looked a difficult task for the Scotland Grand Masters (Over 60) to perform well in the Pacific Rim Tournament in Kuala Lumpur.

However new caps Neil Mackenzie and Ian McCreath, along with a number of ‘older caps’ drafted in to help make up the squad which still numbered only fourteen, rose to the occasion and helped the team to an unbeaten record in the tournament.

Only goal difference had prevented their making the final, England pipping them to first place in the group after both sides had finished level on points, having shared a 1-1 draw in the opening match of the group.

Scotland had to be content with playing Asian Cup runners-up, Japan, for third place in the tournament on Sunday 1 November.

In a match played in the steamy heat of the day, Scotland showed the benefit of the coaching of their new coach, Murray Paton, playing controlled, possession hockey even though the players were plainly exhausted through the heat and the aftermath of playing five matches and a friendly in a seven day period with a small squad.

The only goal of the game was scored by Alistair Ogilvie (his fourth of the tournament, making him top scorer) and the Scots hung on to their advantage to claim third place.

Overall, this was a notable performance which gives Scotland Grand Masters every reason to look forward with confidence to taking a full squad to the World Cup in Australia in 2016.

grand masters

Back Row: Glenn Paton, Bernie Morrison, Jim Chisholm, Peter Robertson, Neil Mackenzie, Alistair Ogilvie, (inset Andy Ferrol)

Front Row: (inset Derek Johnstone), Ian McCreath, George Finlayson (captain), Chris Kalman, John Candlin, Peter Gordon, Murdoch Shirreffs.

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