Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
ROUND-UP GM’s Pauline and her kids make history
THE National Hockey League programme got fully under way on Saturday with GroveMenzieshill and MJV Wanderers men’s and ladies facing up for their first matches, both at DISC.
It was the l adies match which provided the excitement and surprise — and a bit of history.
Included i n the Grove line-up was Pauline Stott, the former Scotland and GB player and her daughters, Katie and Ellie. That is surely a first in Scottish hockey and certainly is National League Division One first.
Grove were the team expected to take the honours and, with goals by Sarah Jamieson in the second minute and Leigh Fawcett seven minutes later, it look like a ‘Grovies’ win.
However, Wanderers struck back with a double by Emily Dark via a retaken penalty corner flick-shot in the 16th minute and another three minutes later.
Both teams were active for the rest of the half and a save by Wanderers’ Carmin Dow kept the score even at half-time.
Grove had four penalty corners unconverted in the second half and, with six minutes remaining, Dark completed her hat-trick with a 45 metre run and shot.
Grove had another penalty corner as the clock was running down and Katy Robertson scored for 3-3 in what had been a great seasonopening game at DISC.
Other Division One scores — Western Wildcats 1 Hillhead 0, Edinburgh University 5 Glasgow High Kelvinside 1, Clydesdale 5 Grange 1, Kelburne 0 Watsonians 2.
In the men’s Division One, Grove Menzieshill had a 3-1 win over MJV Dundee Wanderers.
GM’s Ben Cosgrove opened the scoring but Elliot Sandison equalised for Wanderers.
Midway into the second half, Ollie James put GM in front again, then Gavin Byres made it 3-1.
Other scores in the division were Western Wildcats 3 Hillhead 2, Clydesdale 0 Grange 4 and the title holders Kelburne had a 5-1 win over Inverleith
In Division Two, Harris FP lost 10 -0 to Gordonians.
Perthshire will be well pleased with their opening Division Two win, 7-3 over Granite City Wanderers, with goals by Adam Czub (3), Michael Czub, John Stephen, Lewis Pike and Michael Berry.
In Division Three, Monarchs had a 3-2 win over Greenock Morton with Callum Boag netting two for Monarchs.
In the Men’s Regional Division One, Grove Menzieshill lost 3-2 to Clydesdale II.
Scores in the Midland men’s Division One — Madras 0 Wanderers III 2, Menzieshill III 1 Perthshire II 8, Perthshire III 5 Harris II 0.
Division Two scores — Wanderers V 1 Madras II 1, Harris III 1 Monarchs III 1, Perthshire V 4 Perthshire IV 2.
Wanderers’ fifth goal was scored by 14-year-old Oscar Brown, who was making his debut.
Midland Ladies Division One — Blairgowrie 6 Wanderers II 0. Division Two — Grove Menzieshill III 6 Madras II 0, Stirling University II 2 Perthshire III 5.
In the Midlands ladies and men’s leagues this weekend, there is a full fixture list.
For the men, Perthshire II and Monarchs III have a rest day. The men’s Division Two is on Sunday.
For the ladies, there are four fixtures in both divisions on Saturday.
The GB Elite Development Programme Assessment Camp at Bisham Abbey from the 20th to the 21st of this month, includes five Scots. They are Cameron Golden and Aiden McQuade (both Grove Menzieshill), Rob Harwood (Western Wildcats), Callum McKenzie ( Grange) and Murray Collins (Loughborough Students).
First round games in the six national cups are on Sunday.
Besides the Saturday National League games, there are three men’s Division One games on Friday, Uddingston v Western, Inverleith v Edinburgh University and Clydesdale v Kelburne.
On Saturday GroveMenzieshill are at Grange.
MJV Dundee Wanderers and Hillhead play at Dalnacraig (2pm) with both looking to open their points tally.