Day 1 of the Scottish Hockey Cup Finals weekend, one of the highlights of the domestic hockey season in Scotland. Stand by for a full day of men’s finals at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre with Grange v Bromac Kelburne ensuring a grandstand finish from 4pm. Admission is on the gate.
The Scottish Cup finals weekend will include no less than ten finals featuring some of the best players in Scotland with the Scottish Cup final matches, Grange v Bromac Kelburne (men) and Milne Craig Clydesdale Western v Edinburgh University (women) the highlight of Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Play gets underway at 10am today (for the full schedule of today’s matches see below) with Grange taking on Bromac Kelburne at 4pm.
Read on for a preview of the match courtesy of Scottish Hockey:-
The Scottish Cup finals this weekend could be the best ever as it involves the country`s top sides, the league winners and runners-up, in both the men’s and women’s finals. In the men’s Bromac Kelburne face Grange with additional interest generated by question of whether Kelburne can achieve a the league and cup double, or whether their opponents will be good enough on the day to ensure a distribution of honours.
Both sides will come into the men`s Scottish Cup final from very different perspectives, Kelburne on a high having unexpectedly landed the National League 1 title last weekend and Grange having fallen at the final hurdle.
Grange coach David Knipe has the task of rebuilding his squad`s confidence after last weekend`s disappointment – and it’s true that one reversal does not suddenly make Grange a poor side.
The Edinburgh side have a proud record in the cup, they have won it five times, twice in the last three years. They also progressed through the earlier stages in the competition in some style; four victories all against first division opposition and 25 goals into the bargain. Grange have been a free-scoring side all season, lately Frank Ryan, Joe Waterston, Cammie Fraser and Callum Milne have featured strongly in that department.
Grange will not be expecting any sympathy for last weekend`s volte-face, that is not in the Kelburne psyche. There can be no doubt that the Paisley side under coach Gordon Shepherd will be determined to collect their eighth Scottish Cup and the season`s double. Shepherd said: “We are all really excited about the cup final…it`s a special day. It`s the two best sides in the country so I hope it`s a good game.”
It should certainly be an even contest if the league is anything to go by, Grange won the opening encounter 2-1 with Callum Milne scoring from the spot and Duncan Riddell getting the winner with a late strike. Kelburne got their revenge in the return match with a 3-0 win and goals by Lee Morton, Johnny Christie and Josh Cairns although the scoreline perhaps didn’t tell the full story of the contest
It’s all set for a great festival of hockey at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre, with entertainment including interactive on-pitch challenges with Scotland men’s internationalist Dan Coultas, an open bar, and food to accompany all the action on the pitch.
The Finals weekend is part of the Team Scotland Series bringing together multiple Scottish Championship events across 13 Commonwealth Games sports throughout the year, with athletes competing for the honour of being crowned Scotland’s best. Acting as a launch pad towards representing Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, the Scottish Cup finals play a key part in athletes’ sporting journeys and are a great opportunity to see future Commonwealth Games athletes up close and playing for silverware in Glasgow.
Full schedule for today’s finals is as follows:-
Photo: Scottish Hockey
10am – Men’s Reserve Cup Final. Hillhead 3s v Grange 3s
10am – Men’s Reserve Plate Final (Pitch 2). Watsonians 3s v Grove Menzieshill 3s
12pm – Men’s District Cup Final. Watsonians 2s v Grange 2s
12pm – Men’s District Plate Final (Pitch 2). Edinburgh University 2s v Erskine Stewart’s Melville FP 2s
2pm – Men’s Scottish Plate Final. Western Wildcats v Watsonians
4pm – Men’s Scottish Cup Final. Grange v Bromac Kelburne
Matches start from 10am.
Admission on the day: Adults £5/Concessions £3.
There’s plenty more hockey action to come in 2017 including next week’s play-off finals and internationals over the summer. For the latest spectator information subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!