Inverleith and Grange are U14 Eights Champions

This season’s U14 ‘Eights’ Finals produced exactly 150 goals in a thrilling day of youth hockey at Peffermill. The event, on Sunday 26 March, involved 250 young players from 22 club teams. ‘Eights’ are so called because teams play 8-a-side matches on half-pitches.

U14 Girls

Inverleith took home the gold medals and trophy in the girls’ event, scoring 14 goals and only conceding once. They won Pool A with wins against Dundee Wanderers, Edinburgh HC (EHC) and Gullane. EHC were runners-up with 4-0 wins against both their opponents.

Watsonians topped Pool B after beating ESM and Perthshire, and a hard-fought 1-0 win against Uddingston. The West District club came second, hitting eight goals in their other two matches.

Pool C was topped by Grange, ahead of Fidra Lions and Grove Menzieshill. The North Berwick girls’ 2-0 win against the Dundonians gave them second place.

And so to the play-offs, with the pool winners playing each other for places 1-3, and the other teams all having one play-off match. Inverleith and Grange both beat Watsonians, 1-0 and 2-1 respectively, to set up a ‘winner-takes-all’ last match. And the purples turned on the style in a 3-0 win to become champions, ahead of runners-up Grange.

In the play-offs, EHC edged Fidra 2-1; Uddingston beat Grove Menzieshill 4-0; Gullane beat Perthshire 3-0; and Dundee Wanderers and ESM shared a 1-1 draw.

U14 Boys

The boys’ event produced an equal level of excitement and high quality hockey. In the end, Grange were deservedly crowned champions after scoring 21 goals and only conceding once. They won Pool A with a 100% record, ahead of a talented young Hillhead team. Perthshire edged Gullane for 3rd place with a 4-3 win.

A highly competitive Pool B was won by Watsonians who had one-goal wins against Inverleith (2-1), Uddingston (1-0) and Dundee Wanderers (1-0). Wanderers were runners-up after a last-second winner against Uddingston earned them a 2-1 win, and a 2-0 win against Inverleith who came third.

Pool C was equally tight, with one goal separating the teams in all matches. Edinburgh HC (EHC) came out on top with a 2-1 win v Grove Menzieshill and 3-2 v ESM. The Taysiders beat ESM 1-0 to come second.

After three thrilling final matches, Grange were crowned champions with wins against Watsonians (3-1) and EHC (1-0). The maroons came second with a 2-0 win against their Edinburgh neighbours.

In the play-offs, Hillhead beat Grove Menzieshill 2-0; Wanderers beat ESM 3-0; Inverleith edged Perthshire 1-0; and Uddingston beat Gullane 1-0.

Full credit to all the teams for surviving the hailstones and freezing wind without complaint. The tournament was played in great spirit, and well umpired by all the club umpires. Thank you to Ali Fraser, our technical official for the day.

The next U14 national events are the Festival on 28 May, and the 11-a-side cup finals on 4 June, both at Strathallan.

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