U.18 Girls Indoor Inter District Championships at Hutchensons’ Grammar School. Glasgow.

Saturday 3rd February 2007.

We won again. Six years in a row ! Unbeaten, won 3, drew 1 and goals for17 and goals against 9.

Overall we won but the competition was very close this year and on our final game three teams were in with a chance of winning the overall championship. The players had parents and management team riding a roller coaster of emotions with every one trying to keep calm and their heart-rate steady, not an easy thing to do.

Players, coaches and parents should be proud of their achievement, the training squad had 3 weeks (6 hours training) before the squad was cut. The tournament squad then had 1 session (2 hours) to gel as a squad, practice penalty corner attacking options and defending strategies.

The matches were 12 minutes each way which was hardly time to get in to a playing stride but as a moments lack of concentration can lead to quick goals being scored against you, the team then has a mountain to climb. A minute can be a very long time in indoor hockey especially when you are defending.

The East girls drew their opening match game versus South 4 -4. Lack of concentration and East were a goal down in 30 seconds and before they knew

it 0-2 down. At half time 1-3 down and a mole hill to climb. East then started to play hockey, clawed their way back to 3-3 only to concede another goal. East were awarded a penalty corner with 45 seconds on the clock, another penalty corner and Kerstin Plain scored and equalised with only 10 seconds left. Adult stress levels were high.

Second game versus North. A tough struggle with East running out 4-3 winners.

Third game versus Midlands. At a defending penalty corner Kerstin Plain did not duck quick enough and headed the ball. The resulting 4 cms laceration to her forehead required several wound dressings to staunch the blood and she was hospitalised receiving seven stitches. The team then started to play to their potential and won 4-1. Then North held South to a 2-2 draw.

It was all on our last game. East had to beat West, West had to beat East and South just needed both teams to draw to win the championship. The players stepped up a gear or two and played indoor hockey. East were ahead 2-1 at half time. Second half East stepped up another couple of gears and scored 3 goals without reply. Final score 5-1. East winners again.

Saturday 3rd February depart 8.30am by cars for Glasgow

11.05am versus South drew 4-4 (h/t 1-3) Tutu Osifodunrin, Harriet

Bascombe, Kerstin Plain 2

12.50pm versus North won 4-3 (h/t 2-2) Tutu Osifodunrin 2, Harriet

Bascombe, Fiona Thomson

2.10pm versus Midlands won 4-1 (h/t 1-1) Tutu Osifodunrin 3, Fiona

Thomson

3.pm versus West won 5-1 (h/t 2-1) Tutu Osifodunrin 3, Fiona

Thomson, Lyndsay Gowans

Leading goal scorer Tutu Osifodunrin 9

1st. EAST played 4, won 3, drawn 1, 10 points goals for 17 and goals

against 9.

2nd South played 4 won 2, drawn 2 8 points.

Tuti Osifodunrin and Harriet Bascombe have played for East for the last three years and have three winners medals.

Debbie Brown, Lyndsay Gowans, Kerstin Plain and Emma Yau have two winners medals.

Indoor flashes were presented to Donna Bruce, Elizabeth Fergusson, Rebecca McDermott, Fiona Thomson and Iona Stephen.

District badge and indoor flash were presented to Alison Sinclair.

Seven of the squad are still young enough to play U.18’s next year depending on their eligibility.

My thanks Val Thomson and George Guy for their commitment, energy and for giving up their Friday evenings and all day Saturday to coach the girls.

Thanks to the players for their enthusiasm to train, work very hard and learn all about the game at the end of a long week at school.

Thanks to Judy Miller who umpired on East’s behalf at the Tournament and finally thanks to parents for their continued support and especially to those who drove players to Glasgow, cheered on the team and shared in their excitement and success.

U.18 Indoor Squad 2007

Donna Bruce GK Captain

Lyndsay Gowans V Captain

Tutu Osifodunrin

Alison Sinclair

Iona Stephen

Elizabeth Fergusson

Emma Yau

Harriet Bascombe

Debbie Brown

Fiona Thomson

Rebecca McDermott

Kerstin Plain

Coaches Val Thomson and George Guy

Manager Gail Cousins

Gail Cousins

Indoor Manager