Hockey: Mixed fortunes for the Scots in Celtic Cup

Published on 02/07/2012 01:19

DESPITE a brave fightback, Scotland went down 6-5 to South Africa, in the final game of the Celtic Cup in Lisburn to finish in third place.

Thornton McDade, Ian Haley (2) and Lloyd Norris-Jones gave South Africa a comfortable first-half lead. But DanCoultas scored with a low drag-flick then, four minutes into the second half Coultas scored again from a penalty corner. He made it 4-3 from the spot. The Scots levelled when another Coultas drag-flick flew high into the net.

The South Africans rallied to lead 6-4 through Norris-Jones and a penalty by Andrew Cronje. In the dying moments, Coultas scored again from the spot for 6-5 to set up a grandstand finish. Also in Lisburn, Scotland’s women retained the Celtic Cup in some style by beating Wales 3-0.After a goalless first half, the Scots stepped it up in the later stages and Holly Cram opened the scoring with a low shot. Three minutes later, a Nikki Kidd drag-flick flew low past the Welsh goalkeeperand the third goal came when Sam Judge scored with a low strike.