MEN’S HOCKEY

Grove’s Golden on the mark against Belarus

Scotland faced a difficult weekend in the Hockey Series Open in Lousada, Portugal.

They started two points ahead of the next two teams, Russia and Belarus, but had to play both. Russia took the lead in the first quarter of Saturday’s match and extended that to 2-0 early in the second quarter.

That left the Scots with much to do but they upped their game significantly in the third quarter. Luke Cranney pulled one back but that was all that the Scots could manage despite their general play meriting at least an equaliser. The fourth quarter saw Russia regain their supremacy and add two more goals for a comfortable 4-1 win. Belarus had put added pressure on Scotland with their 7-1 win over Turkey so that both Russia and Belarus were one point ahead of Scotland going into the last round of matches.

The first quarter of the deciding game against Belarus saw no real goalscoring opportunities on either side, but the result was effectively determined in the second quarter. David Forsyth opened the scoring after a penalty corner for Belarus had broken down, the fast break by the Scots catching out the Belarus defence.

The second followed two minutes later when Cameron Golden (Grove Menzieshill) deflected the ball into the net at a well-worked penalty corner.

The third followed just as quickly when Kyle Whyte, who had been instrumental in setting up the second goal, did the same for Rob Harwood. The fourth goal, a close-range effort by Golden, clinched victory and progress for the Scots to the second stage of the Hockey Series.

That was Cameron’ sixth goal of the tournament and that, together with his overall play, saw him awarded “best player”.

Dundee Wanderers recorded their second win against Inverleith at Dalnacraig. Elliot Sandison gave them an early lead and, despite Wanderers having the better of the first half, that was how it remained until half-time. Inverleith equalised soon after the restart but this sparked Wanderers into life and a goal each from Sean Dowie and Fergus Sandison clinched the points for Wanderers. Wanderers completed a great weekend with a resounding win away to Aberdeen Grammar.

Two goals by Bobby Ralph and one each by Sean Dowie, Elliot Sandison and Gregor Pearson were more than sufficient. Wanderers lead the way in division 2 with three straight wins. Perthshire found Carnegie just too good and a goal apiece from Calum White and Stephen Dick was not good enough against the five netted by the Dunfermline side. Menzieshill II are in the top level of competition below the National league and found it hard going against Western Wildcats II who regularly feature at or near the top of the central Regional League. Perthshire II recorded a narrower than expected win over Menzieshill III in the Midland League, but the three points are the most important fact. Two goals by Alfie Ackerley and one by Pete Black earned Harris II a point against Perthshire III, the Perth side having established a two-goal lead in the first half and extended this to 3-0 before Harris got on the goal trail. Results: Saturday, Men’s National League Division 1 – Grange 6 Gordonians 1, Hillhead 1 Clydesdale 1, Uddingston 4 Watsonians 2. Division 2 – Dundee Wanderers 3 Inverleith 1, Perthshire 2 Dunfermline Carnegie 5, Stepps 6 Aberdeen GSFP 3.

Central Division 1 – Western Wildcats II 2 Grove Menzieshill II 0.

Midland League Division 1 – Grove Menzieshill III 1 Perthshire

II 2, Wanderers IV 2 Monarchs II 3, Perthshire III 3 Harris II 3. Sunday, Men’s National League Division 2 – Aberdeen GSFP 1 Dundee Wanderers 5. Midland League

Division 2 – Harris III 1 Monarchs III 1, Perthshire V 2 Perthshire IV 4.