ROUND-UP GM joy as they serve up final win on a Plate

IT was Cup and Plate Finals hockey action on Saturday for the men and Sunday for the ladies.

Unusually for Midland District, only one local team featured in the 10 finals played at the National Centre i n Glasgow.

Grove-Menzieshill men’s III had a 5-2 win in the Reserve Plate final against Watsonians III with goals from Ian Souter and Tom Dalgarno before Watsonians III levelled the score. However, Gavin Cruickshanks restored the Menzieshill lead before half-time.

In a very competitive second half, Menzieshill had the edge and goals from Sam Tilston and Andrew McQueen brought them a 5-2 win.

Kelburne Bromac retained the Scottish Cup for a league and Cup double. They beat Grange 5-2.

Other scores in the men’s finals on Saturday were — Scottish Plate — Western Wildcats 4 Watsonians 1.

In the District Cup it was Watsonians II 1 Grange II 4 and, in the District Plate, Edinburgh University II 2 Erskine SM 1. Grange III had a win in the Men’s Reserve Cup, 1-0 over Hillhead III.

This weekend, the National Outdoor season finishes with the play-off game set-up for men’s and ladies teams on Saturday and Sunday.

For both men and ladies, Scottish Cup success used to bring entry to European competition but that is, sadly, no longer the case.

For Midlands clubs, it’s Grove-Menzieshill men and women playing for a places in European competition based on the National League positions

On Saturday for the men, it’s Grange v Menzieshill and Kelburne v Western Wildcats. On Sunday, the winners playoff for Europe. However, if Kelburne win on Saturday, their Sunday opposition automatically gets a European entry as league winners Kelburne automatically go to Europe.

In the ladies play-off, it’s the same with Edinburgh University as league winners going into Europe.

Games are Edinburgh University v Western Wildcats and MCC Western v Grove with the winners playing on Sunday.

With Dundee Wanderers men having won Division Two and being automatically promoted, the other place in Division One will be settled between the Saturday winners of Hillhead v Inverleith and Clydesdale v Watsonians then the play-off on Sunday.

The ladies have the same arrangement with GHK automatically promoted.

Play-off games are Erskine SM v Hillhead and Kelburne v Grange with the winners playing on Sunday for the Division One spot.

Venues on Saturday are with the home teams then, on Sunday, games are at the National Centre in Glasgow. If all this seems complicated, rest assured it’s not to the clubs liking either.

For Midland Ladies on Saturday, at DISC, the KO Cup Final score was Perth II 5 Blairgowrie 1 and, in the Plate, Madras 1 St Andrews University IV 2.

In Midland Men’s Division One, Perthshire II had an 18-1 win over Harris II.

This weekend, there’s a full programme in both leagues with the championships still undecided.

Division One games are on Saturday and Division Two on Sunday, along with one Division One game, the St Andrews University II v Menzieshill III fixture.

In Division One, the St Andrews II v Menzieshill III meeting on Sunday is a key fixture.

In Division Two, the three top teams, Perthshire III and IV and Harris III, are kept apart.