Scotland: Stage set for a classic Grand Finals

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Women’s Semi Final

Clydesdale Western 2-0 GHK

The first Grand Finals spot of the day went to Clydesdale Western after a 2-0 win over GHK at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

It was a close game from the outset. The first attempt at goal came from Clydesdale Western and it was some lovely stick skills from Jenny Eadie that fashioned the opening to strike at goal, but it was padded clear by Alison Westwood with orange shirts bursting forward.

GHK played with good composure and edged the play, but Clydesdale looked more dangerous in the circle.

The second half started to get fiery with both teams battling hard for the opening goal. GHK had the first opportunity of the half with a Margery Justice penalty corner that zipped wide of the right post.

The opener finally came and it a powerful low blast into the bottom right corner by Mille Steiger that broke the deadlock and gave Clydesdale the lead. 1-0.

The place in the Grand Finals was sealed for Clydesdale in the final quarter when Ava Graham won the ball in the GHK circle and slotted the ball into the bottom right corner for 2-0.

Women’s Semi Final

Watsonians 0-0(3-2) Edinburgh University

It once again took a shootout to separate the teams but this time it was Watsonians who came out on top with a 3-2 win after a 0-0 draw. Watsonians face Clydesdale Western in the Grand Finals.

The match began at ferocious pace but both sides found the other well organuised and resolute in defence. The first opportunity of the game came right at the end of the opening quarter through a penalty corner for Edinburgh University. Jess Ross fired goal-ward but it was well stopped and the danger cleared.

Early in the second quarter Emily Dark for Watsonians had a drag flick saved at the bottom left post as the game began to heat up.

Then a golden opportunity for Watsonians to take the lead when Sarah Jamieson fizzed the ball to the far post for Fiona Burnet, but it bounced off the forward’s stick and wide.

Watsonians came close again when a penalty corner strike by Katherine Holdgate thundered against the left post, and this was soon followed by a Jamieson run and shot that whizzed just wide of the post.

The match went end-to-end and it was a contest that could have went either way, but the teams couldn’t be separated and it went to a shootout.

Much like the Scottish Cup Final the shootout went right down to the wire, this time a save by Lucy Camlin in goal gave Watsonians a 3-2 win to book a spot in the Grand Finals.

Men’s Semi Final

Grange 0-2 Watsonians

A 2-0 win over Grange saw Watsonians earn their spot in the Grand Finals at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

The game got off to a ferocious start and it was this ferocity that led to an early penalty stroke going to Watsonians. Tommy Orr stepped up to strike it but his effort zipped wide of the left post and the match remained at stalemate.

The stalemate would be broken soon enough and it was the team in maroon who did it. Guy Rowson pounced on the ball as it wriggled towards him amidst a stramash on the goal line, and scooped it home into the empty to make it 1-0 to Watsonians.

In the second quarter it almost went to 2-0 when Euan Burgess rattled a cross into the circle but it evaded all onrushing players, hit the post, and zipped across the goal line before being cleared.

Shortly after half time Watsonians did go two ahead when a through pass sent Duncan Riddell charging into the circle with just the goalkeeper to beat, and he scooped the ball into the roof of the net for 2-0.

Then Watsonians was awarded a second stroke of the game and this time Orr was denied by the excellent David Forrester in goal with a diving save to the left.

Grange were all guns blazing in the final quarter to try and drag themselves back into the contest but the day belonged to Watsonians and they booked their place in the Grand Finals with a 2-0 win.

Men’s Semi Final

Western Wildcats 3-2 Edinburgh University

An unbelievable game saw Western Wildcats book their Grand Finals place with a 3-2 win over Edinburgh University.

Western Wildcats came out flying and within the first minute Adam Mackenzie tested Matt Taylor in goal for Edinburgh University with a powerful low effort, but the keeper dealt with it easily.

The game was 90 seconds old when Western opened the scoring. The ball fell kindly for Jamie Golden in the middle of the circle and he picked his spot to make it 1-0.

Early in the second quarter Western doubled its advantage when Mackenzie burst in from the right and crashed a low effort into the bottom right corner for 2-0.

Western enjoyed good spells of possession with Tommy Austin dictating much of the play, but they were unable to add to their advantage before half time.

It was Edinburgh University who started the second half strong and pulled a goal back early doors. Iain McFadden sailed a drag flick into the top left corner to pull the score back to 2-1.

A blink of an eye later and the cores were level. Keir Robb peeled off to the far post and unleashed a rocket into the roof of the net to equalise. 2-2.

Western came back strong an improvised backward flick by Simon Wells found the net to put them back in front, 3-2.

The final quarter saw great composure from Western to keep possession and pose threat for a fourth, until they clocked up two late cards and the students replaced their goalkeeper with an outfield player. Western survived a late onslaught to book their place in the Grand Finals.