Watsonians girls celebrate U-16 success

STRATHALLAN and Watsonians emerged as winners of the boys' and girls' Scottish Under-16 Youth Cups respectively at the annual youth tournament at Peffermill.

The Midlands side lifted the silverware when they defeated the North representatives, Aberdeen Grammar School FP Colts, 1-0 in the final, the winning strike coming from Alex Murray.

Despite losing their opening fixture 1-0 to Inverleith, Strathallan finished in pole position in the five-team pool after defeating last year's winners, Clydesdale, 4-0 with Charles Beamish netting a double, then Kelburne 3-1, and finishing with a 2-2 draw against Aberdeen.

Although Inverleith finished undefeated with a win and three draws in the pool competition, the Edinburgh side lost out on a place in the final on goal difference to the Northerners. Inverleith finished in bronze medal spot with Kelburne in fourth place.

In the girls' competition, Watsonians sailed into the final with straight wins over Kelso, Strathallan and the High School of Glasgow – and all without losing a goal. Mary Erskine's School also had a whitewash over Glasgow High, Robert Gordon's College and, finally, Strathallan.

The final between the two Edinburgh sides ended in deadlock with neither side able to find the net in normal time. In the resulting penalty shoot-out Ailie Clapperton, Kirsten Peters and Caitlin Gibson all converted from the spot to give Watsonians a winning 3-1 scoreline to keep the trophy in the capital for the fourth year in a row.

Third place went to the High School of Glasgow with Strath-allan finishing fourth.