Hockey: Colleges share spoils in U-18 Scottish Cups

The boys from Robert Gordon's overcame Fettes College to win the cup for the first time, while George Watson's have now won the girls cup three out of the last five years.

Harry Chatfield scored the winner midway into the second half from a penalty corner as Robert Gordon's beat Fettes 1-0 in their final.

The Aberdeen school's captain Grant Veitch was given the trophy by a representative of the Scottish Hockey Union to the applause of the many pupils and former pupils supporting them.

Robert Gordon's have had an impressive season, capped by this victory, and that has led to representative call-ups. Ross Milner, Grant Scott and Ewan Harry-Thomas are all in the Scotland under-16 squad to play in Holland in April.

PE teacher Colin Filer said: "This is great reward for the boys following their hard work this season and an excellent opportunity to represent their country. Following in the footsteps of under-18 Internationalists Harry Chatfield and Grant Veitch, this is the first time that Ross, Grant or Ewan have played at this level. The players are reaping the rewards of training on our water-based Astro pitches at Countesswells, which develop the skills required to play at the top level."

Meanwhile, a strike from Hazel Hall after only five minutes settled the girls final in favour of George Watson's against Kelvinside Academy.

George Watson's had opened their pool competition with a goalless draw with the Glasgow school, followed by a single-goal win over Kelso High before they beat Millburn Academy 4,0, with Hall scoring twice.The highlight of that group was Kelso's 6-0 win over Millburn, with Emily Stewart scoring no fewer than five of them.

In the other pool, Hutchesons' Grammar ploughed their way to the top with a series of convincing wins - 4-0 over Robert Gordon's College, Heather Lang scoring a hat-trick, then seven without reply against Strathallan School, with Lang getting another two and Lucy Lanigan scoring three times - and ending with a more modest 2-0 win over St Columba's High School.

Robert Gordon's College just edged out Strathallan for the other semi-final spot when the sides drew 0-0 in their final pool match.

In the first semi-final, George Watson's met the high-flying Hutchesons' Grammar and held the holders to a 1-1 draw, with Natalie Binnie and Lucy Lannigan getting the goals for the respective schools. However, it was the Edinburgh side who held their nerve and won a penalty shoot-out 4-2 for a place in the final.The other last-four match was a more clear-cut affair, with Kelvinside Academy seeing of Robert Gordon's 5-1, Jenny Morris scoring twice.

Then George Watson's won the aforementioned final in a fantastic season for them - unbeaten all year, with only two full matches and two sevens tournaments to play. At the weekend the team travelled to Blackpool where they played some of the top English teams as well as the British Colleges select team.

Meanwhile, the High School of Glasgow girls won the under-16 hockey Scottish Cup in Aberdeen on Sunday.

George Watson's College, Kelso High School, Strathallan School, Mary Erskine's and Robert Gordon's College competed in the event at the Aberdeen Sports Village and, after the pool stages, the High School of Glasgow came out on top, defeating Mary Erskine's in the final. Organisers are looking for a date to play the under-16 boys event after it was postponed on Sunday due to the weather.