Katie hoping students can pass cup final test

Mention Freuchie in a national sporting context and many will instantly say cricket. This is, of course, a reference to 1985 when the cricket team from the Fife village triumphed over a team from Surrey in the National Village Championship at Lord’s.

The stunning success captured the imagination of Scots throughout the world and catapulted the club into the national media headlines.

Now, another athlete from the village is making her mark at international level with Katie Robertson recently excelling as a playmaker for Scotland at hockey.

She aims to bring that creative talent into tomorrow’s Scottish Cup final clash with doublechasing Watsonians at the Peffermill playing fields.

The Edinburgh University star would love to regain the trophy the students proudly held pre-Covid, and it would set the students up for their trip to the EuroHockey Club Challenge II in Turkey from June 3 to 6.

They are in Pool B while Glasgow-based Clydesdale Western are in Pool A in the Alanya-based competition, but the focus currently is firmly fixed on tomorrow for the Dollar Academy PE teacher.

The students, coached by former Scottish international Sam Judge, have not beaten the newly

crowned Premiership winners in matches so far this term, losing the first game 3-0 in mid-November, the second 4-2 in midMarch and drawing the third 2-2 at the end of April.

Robertson, who went to Kilgraston School near

Bridge of Earn in Perthshire, hopes to play her part in making the showpiece game memorable for those who attend the match in Edinburgh tomorrow and others watching on livestream.

She desperately wants to be holding the silverware at the final whistle.

The 25-year-old said: “The final features two Edinburgh clubs who are first and second in the league and who play good hockey.

“We’ve played Watsonians three teams and each time we have been disappointed.

“We lost the first game but in the second we created a lot of chances and the third game we drew.

“Now we have Great Britain squad player Amy (Costello) who has made a real difference with good outlet ball, intelligent defence.

“She is also good at corners.”

Robertson added: “Watsonians are undoubtedly the team to beat and we have to give them respect for what they have achieved.

“However, in the last game we played against them we were ahead until the last five or 10 minutes. We ended up with a draw.

“The pressure is on them as they won the league and are looking to add the Scottish Cup, but we also want to win the silverware ahead of our trip to Turkey for the Europeans.”

Katie Robertson.