Stonelaw close to cup final win
School so close to Scottish success
Stonelaw’s senior boys’ volleyball team took part in the Schools’ Scottish Cup final at Calderhead High in Shotts.
After navigating through a very tough route to it, putting out last year’s winners as well as a very good team from Kyle Academy, the boys had a fighting chance at securing the coveted cup.
Stonelaw were up against Belmont Academy from Ayrshire who had gone unbeaten in every school competition so far this year, and were undisputably the favourites to win.
The Rutherglen school had already played them this year in a tournament, losing by a considerable margin but that didn’t put the pupils off as they were determined this game would be different.
The loyal Stonelaw supporters turned out in vast numbers to cheer on the team, creating an electric atmosphere.
The first set was incredible. Stonelaw won it 25–8, completely obliterating Belmont’s passers as they couldn’t compete with their serving. Stonelaw gained momentum throughout the first set, with help from the crowd, and comfortably controlled the game from their side of the net.
This was the first time Stonelaw realised that the team they were playing were beatable and the game wouldn’t just be a formality. All they needed to do was not let them get their foot back in the door.
Unfortunately, Stonelaw did just that. What they did to them in the first set, they did to Stonelaw in the second. Off the back of one serve, they were 9–1 up as all Stonelaw’s momentum had gone and they couldn’t deal with the service. Stonelaw had a small resurgence closer to the end of the set but it wasn’t enough and Belmont won the set 25–14.
The third set was a clean slate and race to 15. After losing the last set, Stonelaw were slightly down but far from out. They went back on the court and traded blows for 10 points leaving the game at 5–5. From here, Stonelaw slowly stopped keeping up with them and they were unreachable. Stonelaw lost the final set 15-9.
For four sixth year boys, it was their last chance to win the Scottish Cup; it was Stonelaw’s third time being in a Scottish Cup final, coming second in them all. It was hard for them to accept that winning was almost in their grasp but they took solace in the fact that they had tried their best. To get that far is an achievement and something the school are proud of.