Youth

Double delight for East District

07 November 2011

East District celebrated a double success after holding off West to top the weekend charts in both U16 and U18 Inter District Tournament held at Peffermill.
West put in a sterling effort in both finals before losing out to their arch rivals who clinched the U16 silverware with open play goals either side of the interval from Phoebe Crosthwaite and Catriona McLellan.
Amber McNeil and Clare Laverty avenged last year's 1-0 defeat although Kirsty Johnstone's second half counter kept it tight until Laverty's late strike ensured the U18 trophy transferred from West to East.

East Girls held their U.18 Indoor Cup on Friday 25th November at the Mary Erskine School. This tournament is a qualifier for Scottish U.18 Girls Cup to be held at Bells SC on Saturday 14th January 2012.

Five teams entered so played in a one pool round robin tournament. Games were 15 minutes one way. Initial matches very close with the winning margin being just one goal. However as the matches progressed, players became used to playing indoor hockey again, adapted to the playing surface so more goals were scored in fast open play and through penalty corners.
The tournament was decided in the penultimate game when Inverleith, who needed just won point to win the Cup, came back from 0-1 down to beat Heriot's 6-1. This meant Watson needed to win their final match v Cala to take second place and this they did 4-0.

Thanks to The Mary Erskine School for hosting the tournament and to the three valuable S6 pupils Tara, Christine and Zoe who did a brilliant job on the Technical table. Thanks to all umpires, coaches, managers and players without whom the tournament would not have run.

Results
1ST INVERLEITH 14 points
2nd George Watsons College 10 points
3rd The Mary Erskine School 9 points
4th George Heriots
5th Cala

Inverleith will represent East at Scottish U.18 Girls Cup to be held at Bells SC on Saturday 14th January 2012.

Gail Cousins
Tournament organiser