Grange & Edinburgh University win National League Grand Finals

A thrilling end to the Scottish Hockey domestic season took place at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre as the Men’s and Women’s National League Grand Finals and Play-Offs second legs provided much drama, excitement and great hockey.

Men’s National League Division 1 Grand Final

The Men’s National League Grand Final between Bromac Kelburne and Grange was dramatically decided by a penalty shoot-out after a 2-2 draw in regulation time over two legs, with the Edinburgh side triumphing in a thrilling climax.

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(Grange celebrate winning the Men’s National League Champions Trophy. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

Kelburne’s best chance in a goalless first half fell to Lee Morton, who was found by an exquisite pass from Chris Nelson, but the Scotland U21 international’s shot rebounded off the right hand post.

Grange also had a great opportunity shortly before half-time, but Andrew Brogdon’s reverse stick effort sailed over the bar.

However, after 105 minutes without a goal, the deadlock was finally broken by Kelburne two minutes into the second half. Mark Ralph’s penalty corner effort was initally saved by Grange’s Sean Hadfield, but the Scotland and GB international was on hand to collect the rebound and strike on the reverse to make it 1-0.

Grange were level in the 43rd minute though when Todd Harmsworth cross was deflected into the right hand corner of the net by Michael Fenelon.

Two minutes later, Mark Ralph’s penalty corner was brilliantly stopped by Hadfield, only for the resulting rebound to be expertly controlled by Michael Christie, who played the ball back to Ralph to dispatch into the net on the reverse stick.

Nevertheless, the Edinburgh side picked themselves up to find another equaliser in the 51st minute, using a clever penalty corner set-play that culminated in Cameron Fraser blasting the ball into the goal to make it 2-2.

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(Cameron Fraser celebrates the second equalising goal for Grange. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

Chances fell to both sides to find a winning goal, but the National Champions Trophy would be decided by a penalty shoot-out, Grange holding their nerve to run out 4-3 winners and take the 1st European qualification spot and the trophy.

Women’s National League Division 1 Grand Final

In the Women’s National League Division 1 Grand Final, Edinburgh University overturned yesterday’s 2-0 defeat to Grove Menzieshill to win by the same scoreline today.

The match subsequently went to a penalty shoot-out, the students holding their nerve to win 3-2.

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(Edinburgh University celebrate winning the Grand Final against Grove Menzieshill. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

Edinburgh University had stormed into a 2-0 lead within the opening ten minutes of the first half; in the seventh minute, Bethan Mann’s cross from the left hand of the circle was deflected into the net by Louise Fleming’s crafty stick intervention, before Becky Dru’s penalty corner drag-flick was parried by Grove Menzieshill ‘keeper Cath Rae onto the bar, only for Mann to bundle home the rebound.

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(Edinburgh University’s Bethan Mann scores the second goal. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

University win the National Champions Trophy and will take the first European qualification spot, while Grove Menzieshill receive the second European qualification spot as runners-up.

Men’s National League Division 1 Relegation Play-Off

Dundee Wanderers appear to have unlocked the secret to securing survival in Men’s National League Division 1 after they defeated Inverleith 5-3 on aggregate in the Relegation Play-Off to retain their status in the top league for the second year running.

After a 2-1 win yesterday, two goals from Bobby Ralph and one from Fergus Sandison gave the Dundonians a 3-2 win in the second leg.

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(Dundee Wanderers survived another play-off battle to retain their Division 1 status. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

Wanderers took the lead in only the fourth minute after an Inverleith attack broke down just outside the Taysiders’ circle. Fergus Sandison was alive to snatch the ball and run almost the entire length of the pitch to lash the ball on his reverse stick into the bottom right hand corner to make it 1-0.

Wanderers found themselves 2-0 up in the 24th minute, again Fergus Sandison was involved playing in Bobby Ralph just in front of goal. The initial shot was saved by Greg McKenzie in the Inverleith goal but Ralph made no mistake from the rebound to crack the ball low and hard into the net.

Inverleith were back in the match two minutes later though, Joe Waterson finding Andrew Malcolm in space to play in James Gray, who controlled the ball excellently before firing past Wanderers’ Lewis Beer to make it 2-1.

Nevertheless, Ralph was Inverleith’s tormentor once again only sixty seconds later, Paul Dailly and Frank Mulgrew combining to find him in space inside the cirle to turn and crack the ball home to restore Wanderers’ two goal cushion.

As the half-time hooter approaced, Inverleith grabbed a lifeline when Patrick Christie’s speculative pass found Magnus Ferrier, his scuffed shot running into the path of Andrew Dane who shot past Beer from close range to make it 3-2 at the interval.

A tense second half affair ensued with chances for both sides; Inverleith possibly having the best opportunities right at the end of the contest but Beer stayed strong in the Wanderers’ nets to ensure a win for the Taysiders and survival for a second year running.

Women’s National League Division 1 Promotion / Relegation Play-Off

Kelburne Ladies retained their National League Division 1 status with a comfortable win over Inverleith Ladies in the Women’s Promotion / Relegation Play-Off. Following yesterday’s 1-1 draw, the Paisley side seized the initiative in today’s second leg, winning 4-0 and 5-1 on aggregate.

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(Kelburne Ladies retained their Division 1 status with a convincing second leg display against Inverleith. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

Kelburne Ladies took the lead early in the contest with a goal from Maddie Cleat; Caitlin Girdwood drove into the circle to unleash a shot on goal that Inverleith goalkeeper Nikki Monaghan could only block into the path of the midfielder who stroked the ball into the far corner to make it 1-0 in the seventh minute.

Inverleith Ladies were almost back in the contest at a penalty corner in the 13th minute but brilliant goalkeeping from Lauren Grant denied Amy Costello’s strike before Drew Berry made two goal-line blocks from both Lucy Jamieson and then Erin Stringer.

The aformentioned miss would prove costly for Inverleith when Kelburne doubled their five minutes later. Stevie McInally took advantage of a free hit on the left of her opponents’ half to play in Cleat, who made no mistake with a fantastic reverse stick shot that crashed into the roof of the net for a 2-0 lead.

McInally almost registered Kelburne’s third goal in the 22nd minute, only for Monaghan to deny her sweetly struck low drive with a good stop.

Kelburne wrapped up the match two minutes after half-time after securing their third goal.. McInally found herself in space on the left of the Inverleith half and found Emma Barlow bearing in on goal, the midfielder making no mistake in rounding Monaghan to cooly slot the ball into the empty net.

In the 65th minute, a great pass from McInally played in Barlow once more to have a shot on goal, this time her effort cannoning off an Inverleith defender’s stick against Monaghan’s pads and then over the line to leave the scoreline at 4-0.

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