Tartan Hearts put six past France as they finish FIH Series in fifth

Scotland’s women stormed to victory in Banbridge to end their FIH Series Challenge in fifth place.

Ironically the 6-0 win over France came a week too late, the damage having been done when the French scuttled Scots’ promotion hopes in their opening group clash.

The Tartan Hearts stated their intent early in the rematch with Charlotte Watson’s frightening pace threatening to break the deadlock before Perth’s ‘Squidge’ Campbell edged an 18th minute deflection past Mathilde Petriaus.

Fiona Semple added her name to the scoresheet two minutes later and resolute defence temporarily stopped the floodgates from opening until Robyn Collins fired in an unstoppable set-piece five minutes after the break.

It was all Scotland in the final quarter and the relentless pressure paid off handsomely with three late goals.

Five minutes from time skipper Kaz Cuthbert supplied the ammunition for Semple’s second of the game,

An individual piece of brilliance from Sarah Jamieson then took it to 5-0 with Cuthbert wrapping up the campaign on a high with a penalty corner rebound.

The home crowd were stunned when home favourites, and 2018 World Cup finalists Ireland, were upstaged 3-1 by second seeds Korea

With the game on a knife edge, all four goals came in the final quarter.

Hyunji Kim was on target with the 46th minute breakthrough but a frenetic final four minutes produced another three strikes, with Nicola Daly’s penalty corner conversion immediately cancelled out by Jina Kang.