Inverleith and Wanderers triumph in Perth

KNOCK-OUT EVENT – BELLS SPORTS CENTRE,
PERTH

FINALS

Inverleith gained their revenge on newly crowned league
champions Grove Menzieshill with a narrow 6-5 win in the final of
the knock-out cup.  The tie might have gone to penalties when
Menzieshill`s Gavin Byers put the ball in the net, but the umpire
spotted he had used the back of his stick and was consequently
disallowed. 

Inverleith reached the interval with a 4-3 lead, Andrew
Sinclair, Phil Hall, Adam MacKenzie from a penalty corner and Tom
Cousins were the scorers while a double from Ben Cromar and Sam
Tiltson replied for the Taysiders.

Stephen Dick made it 5-3 for Inverleith but Dundonians kept in
touch with a goal from Michael Ross.  The tie was virtually
sealed with two quick strikes by John Harris and Hall again, and
although Chris Wilson and Ross McPherson scored a late double for
Menzieshill, it was not enough to prevent the trophy travelling
east to Edinburgh.

The women`s final was more conclusive as Dundee Wanderers
consoled themselves for losing their league title the week before
by beating surprise finalists CALA Edinburgh 8-2.  Three goals
in the opening six minutes from Sam Sangster and Rachael Osborne
(2) knocked the stuffing out of CALA.  Amy Rowan then made it
four early in the second half from a penalty corner.

A mini revival from CALA emerged when Sarah Robertson and
Amy-Jane Russell brought the score back to 4-2.  But Wanderers
then run away with proceedings with further goals from Julie Bryce
(2), Sangster again and finally Fiona Plane for a conclusive
victory.

SEMI-FINALS

In the opening semi-final underdogs VWS Dundee Wanderers were
not for lying down before their more illustrious city rivals Grove
Menzieshill as they raced into a 4-1 lead at the interval, and an
upset looked very much on the cards.  A first half hat-trick
from striker Bobby Ralph was the catalyst, James Weyers got the
other, while Menzieshill`s sole counter came from Ross
McPherson.

At first Wanderers seemed to be weathering the storm, Chris
Wilson scored Menzieshill`s second but the three goal lead was
restored by a strike from Euan Borland.  But then Wanderers
began to run out of steam and up stepped McPherson to inflict
suitable punishment with three goals – making four for the game –
Gavin Byers, Josh Cairns and Gavin Tomlinson also found the target
to give Bruce Cuthill`s charges a comfortable 8-5 margin at the
end.  In this rather feisty affair between local rivals
Wanderers` Connor McArtney and Craig Falconer of Menzieshill spent
some time in the sin bin.

The other game was also a local derby between Edinburgh`s
Inverleith and Grange, the former finally winning a ding-dong
affair by 6-5, Chris Duncan`s conversion from the spot two minutes
from the end finally pushed Inverleith through to the
final.   The first half belonged to two players,
Inverleith`s Derek Salmond scored a hat-trick while Allan Law
converted two set pieces for Grange as the teams were tied at four
each at the interval. 

Six minutes into the second half Stephen Dick gave Inverleith a
5-4 lead but a penalty corner strike from Grange`s Fraser Sands
brought the scores level.  But it was inverleith that pressed
for the winner, Callum Duke had a glaring miss, before Duncan`s
late effort finally edged Inverleith through to the final.

Four goal Sarah Robertson was the toast of CALA Edinburgh as they
provided the shock of the day by seeing off Scottish champions
Grove Menzieshill 4-3  in the first women`s
semi-final.   Robertson gave notice of an upset with two
goals in the first half, but Hazel Hall pulled one back for the
Taysiders just before the interval for a 2-1
scoreline.  

The potential shock became more of a reality when Robertson gave
CALA a 3-1 lead, but it looked business as usual with goals by
Jaime Lyon and Linda Clement to bring the sides level at 3-3. 
The Edinburgh side were not to be denied their moment in the sun
when Robertson again gave them a 4-3 lead seconds
later.   Despite intense Grove pressure, a Leigh Fawcett
penalty corner was brilliantly saved on the line by a defender, the
Edinburgh side triumphed to secure their way to the final.

The other semi-final was a dull affair in comparison with Dundee
Wanderers beating Milne Craig Western 2-1.  Amy Rowan gave
Wanderers an early lead with a deft deflection, thereafter it was
all Western, but the combination of wasted chances and some fine
saves from Carmin Dow in the Wanderers goal kept the Western
scoresheet blank, much to the frustration of coach Neil
Menzies.   At the end of the contest, Jessica Ross missed
an open goal for Wanderers, but her blushes were saved when Sam
Sangster notched a second from a penalty corner that was half
stopped but had the momentum to roll over the line.

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