Hockey: Inverleith put league form behind them to reach final

INVERLEITH defied their league form and for the second time in two years sent Western Wildcats tumbling out of the Arthur McKay Scottish Cup with a 2-1 semi-final win at Peffermill.

The Edinburgh outfit opened their account midway through the first half. Richard Docherty's initial shot at a penalty corner was blocked and Chris Reid was on hand to force the rebound over the line. When Stephen Dick made it two with a powerful volley into the corner of the net, the tie looked over, but, inexplicably, Inverleith contrived to lose the plot.

Philip Hall and John Martin were both sent to the sin bin and the Wildcats clawed their way back into the contest with an Andrew Sewnauth penalty corner strike.

Despite a nervous last few minutes when Wildcats' Scott McCartney fired the ball over the bar when it looked easier to score, Inverleith survived to take their place in next week's final.

Grange failed to join their Edinburgh neighbours after falling 4-0 to Glynhill Kelburne in the other semi-final. Chris Nelson put the Paisley outfit ahead after a solo run from Michael Christie but, on the stroke of half-time, Alan Forsyth scored a second from a rebound. Although Grange fought hard to get back into the tie, further strikes from Kenny Bain and Nelson again sealed their fate.

In the women's semi-finals, meanwhile, second-half strikes from Sam Judge, Ailsa Young and Catriona Forrest gave Milne Craig Western a 3-1 victory after Vikki Bunce had given VWS Dundee Wanderers an early lead from the spot.

Grove demolished reserve side Orange Sox 10-0 with a hat-trick from Ailsa Robertson and a double from Nikki Kidd doing most of the damage.