Last of the Summer Festivals

This season’s national Summer Festivals ended with two really enjoyable Under 16 club tournaments. More than 200 young players showed off their hockey skills in sunny Perthshire over the weekend.

U16 Girls Festival

Nine girls teams from all over the country played at Glenalmond on Saturday: Cala EHC, Granite City Wanderers, Gullane, Highland, Kelso, Perthshire, Stirling Wanderers, Watsonians and Western Wildcats.

Every match was really competitive and each team had their own highlights. Highland had an excellent day, drawing three of their four matches; Kelso beat Cala and Perthshire to win their pool; Granite City Wanderers only conceded two goals all day and just lost out to Gullane on goal difference (1 goal!) in their pool. Stirling Wanderers finished with a good 1-0 win v Perthshire; Western Wildcats beat Cala 2-0 in their play-off to finish fourth; and Cala finished fifth after beating Granite City 1-0.

In the end, the top three teams played each other in a group, with Gullane drawing 1-1 with Kelso before losing 0-2 to Watsonians.  In the last game of the day, Watsonians beat Kelso 4-0 to finish top. Izzy Hogarth, Iona Hancock, Katie Steele and Christina Keenan were the scorers.  Gullane and Kelso played superbly all day to finish second and third respectively.

Thank you to Glenalmond College for their support in hosting the event, and to the trainee umpires who officiated all the matches.  The group, co-ordinated by Karen Thomson from Midland District, did an excellent job, supported by umpire managers Karen and Chris.

Watsonians – U16 Girls Festival winners

U16 Boys Festival

The boys’ event at Strathallan on Sunday had six teams, following a few late call-offs.

Dunfermline Carnegie won their pool with two good wins over Western Wildcats and Perthshire, who edged out Wildcats 1-0 to be runners-up. In Pool B, Stirling Wanderers had an excellent 0-0 draw with Watsonians, before losing 0-3 to a strong Dundee Wanderers team.  However, it was Watsonians who reached the final with a good win against Wanderers.

Stirling Wanderers finished the day on a high with a 2-1 win in a penalty shoot-out against Wildcats after a 1-1 draw to finish fifth. And Dundee Wanderers were third following a 2-1 win against Perthshire in the best match of the day.

In the final, Jack Ross’ penalty corner strike gave Watsonians the lead before a well-worked equaliser by Carnegie’s John Henderson made it 1-1 at half time.  In an end-to-end second half, goalie Logan Wood made some outstanding saves to keep out Carnegie before the maroons scored two late goals. Matthew Leiper set up Jamie Leonard and then scored himself to win it for Watsonians.

In true festival spirit, the winning team received a cake donated by the excellent new Strathallan café, rather than medals!

Watsonians – U16 Boys Festival winners

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Festivals

George Thornton, Youth Competitions & Events Manager, commented, “These events are an important feature of our youth calendar, alongside the numerous Festivals run by clubs throughout the summer term. It’s been great to see hundreds of young players of all ages enjoying the experience of playing against different teams from around the country in friendly tournaments. Thank you to all the volunteers who have coached, umpired or supported their teams to make this happen.”

This season’s youth competitions will finish with the District Festivals on 18/19 June at Peffermill.  These will bring together players from all of the District’s Emerging and Aspiring Development programmes to celebrate the end of their season.

U16 Boys Festival at Strathallan

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