Men’s Semi-Final 1
Grange 3-0 Watsonians
Grange booked the first spot in the Men’s Grand Final with a 3-0 victory over Watsonians at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.
Watsonians survived an early scramble in their circle as Grange looked to strike early; the team in maroon managed to force the ball clear as the white jerseys of Grange piled in looking to convert.
Towards the end of the quarter a swift Watsonians counter attack saw Max Johnstone denied at close range by the advancing David Forrester in goal for Grange.
Then, as the opening quarter reached its close, David Nairn put Grange 1-0 ahead with an instinctive finish, darting ahead of the goalkeeper to convert.
Luke Campbell made an excellent save to deny Grange a second goal midway through the second quarter. It was a quarter that continued to be close and competitive, but with Grange edging the more threatening opportunities.
Quickly after the restart Dan Coultas was denied when his low drag flick was well saved at the left post.
Watsonians came close again when a pass flashed across the face of goal but evaded all on rushing sticks.
Grange put some daylight between the teams early in the final quarter when a penalty corner deflection by Nairn put Grange 2-0 ahead.
Watsonians never stopped battling and Forrester denied them a goal on two occasions,
With the goalkeeper off it left the Watsonians net exposed for a counter, which was how Murray Banks was able to run the ball into an empty goal to make it 3-0 for Grange right on the full time hooter.
Men’s Semi-Final 2
Edinburgh University 1-3 Western Wildcats
A 3-1 victory over Edinburgh University saw Western Wildcats book their place in the Men’s Grand Final.
The game burst into life from the first whistle at a ferocious tempo with the action racing from end to end.
With five minutes of the quarter remaining Western Wildcats won a penalty corner, and twice Edinburgh University players were sent to the half way line. Western then took the lead through a corner routine finished low and powerfully by Fraser Moran. 1-0.
The second quarter saw Western dominate the ball and look a constant threat, but it was Edinburgh University who created the best opportunity for a goal. A powerful pass through the Western defence found Luca Muller at the far post, but Gavin Sommerville in goal was equal to it, and padded the ball clear.
Early doors in the second half Moran made it 2-0 to Western from the penalty spot after some good work by Fraser Calder won the stroke. Moran buried the ball into the bottom left corner for his second of the match.
The students weren’t dead yet, and they quickly bounced back when a sublime far post finish into the roof of the net by Arthur Owens pulled one back for Edinburgh University. 2-1 to Western.
In the final quarter Western Wildcats restored their two-goal advantage to go 3-1 ahead through a Jack McKenzie finish on the turn into the bottom left corner.
Women’s Semi-Final 1
Watsonians 3-0 Western Wildcats
The first women’s semi-final saw Watsonians beat Western Wildcats 3-0 to seal their spot in the Women’s Grand Final.
Lexi Sabatelli burst forward on a solo run and a foul saw Wildcats awarded a penalty, and a chance for an early lead from the spot. Kate Holmes took responsibility for the stroke but her effort was saved low to the left by Amber Murray to keep the score 0-0.
The second quarter continued to be a close contest with both defences doing a good job of stubbing out any danger.
With just over a minute of the first half remaining Watsonians won a penalty corner, and it led to them taking the lead through a rebound finish by Bex Jones. 1-0.
Wildcats began playing their way back into the contest in the second half with Sabatelli having good influence. However, the penalty corner danger of Emily Dark was evident as two opportunities came close to advancing the Watsonian lead.
The Watsonians advantage soon came and it was Milly Berndes-Cade who made it 2-0 with a low finish after an excellent turn and run by Sarah Jamieson.
Early in the fourth Katherine Holdgate came close to adding a third for Watsonians through a powerful low effort that zipped just wide of the left post.
Up the other end of the pitch Kate Holmes had a drag flick well saved low at the right post as Wildcats tried to claw back into the contest.
Wildcats took off their goalkeeper for the remaining nine minutes but the extra player advantage still couldn’t break down the Watsonians defence.
In the last few seconds Darcy Littlefield latched onto the ball in the Wildcats circle and slammed the ball low against the backboard to make it 3-0 and seal the victory for Watsonians.
Women’s Semi-Final 2
Edinburgh University 0-2 Clydesdale Western
Clydesdale Western claimed their spot in the Women’s Grand Finals with a 2-0 victory over Edinburgh University at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.
Clydesdale Western took an early lead with a powerful strike by Heather O’Brien into the bottom left corner. 1-0.
O’Brien nearly struck again after some good build up down the right allowed for a shot that whizzed just wide of the top left corner.
The Edinburgh students began to move through the gears in the second quarter with Ruth Blaikie and Sophie Hinds having influence, while Millie Steiger showed composure in the Clydesdale midfield.
The longer the quarter went the more Clydesdale grew back into the game, and but for an excellent save by Orla Tait it would have been 2-0 through an Ava Graham deflection.
Excellent goalkeeping became a theme when up the other end of the pitch Cara McAllister pulled off superb saves, the first from a penalty corner deflection, and then down at the right post a short time later, to keep her side in front at the break.
It was a dream start to the second half for Clydesdale Western when they went 2-0 ahead. A superb counter attack down the right saw Emma McGregor finish off a one-two with a low strike to double Clydesdale’s advantage.
In the final quarter Edinburgh University had to go for broke and took off their goalkeeper for the last nine minutes to give an extra outfield player, but Clydesdale weathered the storm and snuffed out any threats to book their place in the Grand Finals.
Tickets available here: https://www.seetickets.com/event/grand-finals/glasgow-national-hockey-centre/3004110
Live stream (PPV) available here: https://tv.scottish-hockey.org.uk/
Live stream bundles: Scottish Hockey (scottish-hockey.org.uk)
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