Looking ahead to play-offs

I N h o c k e y ’s N a t i o n a l League Division One, the league aspect is complete.

The play-off games follow on January 19 with third-fourth place Inverleith v Wanderers II, fifth-sixth place Monarchs I v Harris I and, for the title, Wanderers I v Menzieshill II. Menzieshill I do not play in the Midland Indoor set-up.

It appears there are no indoor tournaments over or after the festive period.

The indoor season resumes on the 7th with the men’s Division Three at Bell’s Coaching Hall. The following weekend, all divisions, men and women, are in action. Then there’s the U/18 Boys Cup on the 15th. The girls event is the following weekend.

On the outdoor scene, there has been considerable re-scheduling of weather-cancelled games.

All clubs would be well advised to make themselves familiar with all the details and those for cup and plate semis at the end of February and early in March.

Scotland’s Ladies International squad players are at a warm-weather training camp at Gran Canaria. In January, they will be at Valencia where they will play four matches against a competitive Spanish side on January 9, 10, 14 and 15.

The two sides met in Alicante back in June in a three-match series with the hosts taking the spoils over the close and competitive series.

The games in January offer the perfect chance for the Scots to prepare for World League 2 in the surroundings. The tournament will be held in Valencia from February 412 and features Scotland, Spain, Czech Republic, Ghana, Poland, Russia and Ukraine. A place in the Hockey World League semi-finals is up for grabs and the top two teams will qualify. The Hockey World League semi-finals is where teams can qualify for the Hockey World Cup.

Scotland Women’s head coach Gordon Shepherd said: “We have 26 players competing for 18 places. The camps will be a mix of physical prep, tactical prep and international games versus Spain.”

The squad includes Grove-Menzieshill’s Nicola Skrastin, Sarah Johnston and Katie Robertson while MJV Dundee Wanderers supplies Becky Ward and Charlotte Watson.