ROUND-UP Inverleith edge Kelburne to be indoor kingpins

INVERLEITH proved too strong for Kelburne in a fiercelycontested final for the Scottish men’s indoor hockey title.

There was little to choose between the two but Inverleith held a 3-2 advantage at halftime and extended this to 5-3 by the close.

Patrick Christie was Inverleith’s main striker with four goals, Stuart Hatton netting the other. Josh Cairns was Kelburne’s ace with two goals, one penalty corner and one penalty stroke, with Jonny Christie scoring their first.

Kelburne, as usual, played without a fully-equipped keeper, Cairns being that sixth player, allowing them to play with six outfield players.

That tactic had been successful against other teams but Inverleith were able to combat set-up.

From the spectator’s point of view, it led to a more interesting contest but the officials rather let the fans down in allowing Cairns to play in a strip barely distinguishable from Inverleith’s.

Inverleith will represent Scotland in next season’s Euro Championships.

Grove Menzieshill and Dundee Wanderers were left to play off for third place.

Ross McPherson gave Menzieshill the lead in the second minute and they dominated the early stages.

However, Wanderers came more into the game and Fergus Sandison gave them the interval lead with two goals in the last three minutes of the first half.

Gavin Tomlinson equalised within a minute of the restart but Bobby Ralph and Sandison restored Wanderers’ lead towards the end of the third quarter. Sandison’s goal was a spectacular high flick on the run from near the edge of the circle.

Menzieshill, depleted by calls from the Scotland outdoor squad, drew level with a goal apiece from Albert Rowling and Tomlinson with three minutes remaining.

Rowling fired a reverse shot off a post and another across goal from a narrow angle. In between, Fergus Sandison netted a penalty corner which proved decisive.

Monarchs had the chance to move up to Division Two, having finished runners-up to Perthshire in Division Three. They took part in a play-off against Inverleith II.

The Edinburgh team had beaten Wanderers II i n a play-off for seventh and eighth place in Division Two, leaving Wanderers II to be relegated and replaced by Perthshire.

A goal by Kenny Falconer set Monarchs on the right track but Inverleith equalised.

Callum Boag gave Monarchs a one-goal lead two minutes from the end of the first half and Scott Glashan extended their advantage to 3-1 two minutes after the break.

When Robbie Low made it 4-1, victory seemed almost assured.

However, Monarchs reckoned without a late surge by Inverleith, who scored twice in quick succession with five minutes remaining. Monarchs held on for a 5-4 victory.

Menzieshill II were again top team in Division Two after beating Carnegie in a penalty shootout after a 4-4 draw.

Jamie Golden equalised a Carnegie opener and Dave Petrie fired Menzieshill ahead in 10 minutes.

The second quarter belonged to Carnegie, who established a 3-2 lead by half-time.

Sam Tilston and Steven Glass for Carnegie exchanged goals and Petrie equalised from a penalty corner.

Golden, John Stephen and Olly James scored in the penalty shootout but Carnegie could only manage one by Glass.

Menzieshill II cannot be promoted to Division One as they are a second team, so Carnegie are promoted to replace Edinburgh University.

Western Wildcats, who defeated Uddingston early in the day, beat Hillhead to replace them in Division One.

Cragiebank Primary played in the SSFA Junior Schools Sevens at Dawson Park.