Schools hockey: McPherson wins it for Mary Erskine’s

Mary Erskine’s School defeated defending champions George Watson’s College 1-0 in the final of the East of Scotland Knockout Cup and the contest under the Peffermill floodlights was as close as the scoreline suggests.

In the bitter cold, Mary Erskine’s had the upper hand in the opening half and Amy McPherson scored the vital goal after 20 minutes.

The second period was very even, and a late Watson’s flurry seemed certain to produce the equaliser. But it was not to be.

For Claire Lampard, who has coached Mary Erskine’s 1st XI for four years, it was a proud moment. “It’s absolutely amazing to win and the good thing is that we now qualify for the National Finals Day on merit,” she said.

“Watson’s are the National holders so they qualify automatically and we would also have gone through even if we had lost the final.

“The girls played really well. Amy scored a great goal and Lucy Preston, who is in the Scottish under-18 squad, was exceptional. Claire Thurlow also had a really solid game.”

Mary Erskine School: Rowan Sinclair, Caitlin Gray, Lucy Preston. Nina Porteous, Claire Thurlow, Beth Armstrong, Kate Love, Amy McPherson, Rebecca Trimble, Hannah Dodds, Kerry Anne Hastings, Jenny Love, Jenny Docherty, Abby Young, Iona Armour

George Watson’s College: Amy Allard-Dunbar (GK), Waverley Miller, Catriona McLellan, Laura-Beth Sproule, Ailie Clapperton, Lucy Clark, Nicky Murray, Ailsa Small, Eilidh Thomson, Emma Stephen, Kirsten Peters, Kirsty McKean, Hannah Cockburn, Felicity Johnson, Anna Bryans.