On Saturday Dunfermline Carnegie Hockey Club ran their annual youth tournament at the Michael Woods Sports Centre Glenrothes in fair, but blustery, conditions.
There were separate competitions at under 10, under 12 and under 14 categories involving fourteen teams at U10 , thirteen teams at U12 and twelve teams at U14.
The host club had entered a total of eleven teams drawn from their weekly community hockey coaching sessions in both Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy giving SEVENTY SIX local players the chance to show off their skills.
With a total of THIRTY-NINE teams entered there were a total of ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN competitive games played by over THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY youths ranging in age from six years to fourteen years. Joining the Dunfermline squads at the event were teams from Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy, Kelso, Kinross and Perth
The U10 and U12 groups occupied the morning session with the U14 competing in the afternoon. The standard of play demonstrated throughout was superb, as it has been in other club events participated in this season, further highlighting the good work being done by volunteer club coaches throughout Scotland providing a pathway for the players and emerging “stars” of the future.
The Under 10 teams were split into two leagues of five and one of four where they played a round-robin format to decide league placing. They then progressed to a series of three team play-off games according to their league placing. In the 1st, 2nd 3rd play-off section between Watsonians Maroon, Cala Blues and Watsonians Whites it was CALA Blue who emerged as gold medal Champions with Watsonians Maroons taking the silver medals as runners-up. Kirkcaldy, who were playing in their first ever event at this age group took fourth place with Carnegie Devils sixth, Carnegie Dragons were twelth and Carnegie Demons thirteenth.
In the under 12 event there were again three leagues playing a round-robin format followed by play-offs to determine overall placing from one to thirteen. The three league winners were Carnegie Tornados CALA Blues and Kirkcaldy having amassed fifteen, twenty and fifteen points respectively.
In the three team play-off Carnegie Tornados emerged unbeaten so took the gold medals and the title of Champions whilst CALA Blue took the silver medal runners-up spot with Kirkcaldy taking a very creditable third place. Carnegie Typhoons finished in tenth place with Carnegie Thunder two further places back.
The under 14 event consisted of twelve teams placed in two leagues of six played across three one-third sized pitches. League ‘A’ was won by Perthshire on goal difference from CALA 1, both having achieved twenty-three points and League ‘B’ was won by Carnegie 1, again on goal difference this time from Inverleith 1 after both teams had amassed twenty-two points. Inverleith 1 and CALA 1 therefore played off for third and fourth and Grange and Watsonians for fifth and sixth. As anticipated the Final was a close fought affair with Carnegie 1 securing the only goal of the game to take the gold medals as Champions and Perthshire the silver runners-up. In the third/fourth play-off both teams managed a goal-apiece so both were awarded third equal status and the fifth/sixth play-off game ended with a 3 – 3 scoreline so again both teams were accredited with a fifth equal finish. Carnegie 2 and Carnegie 3 had finished in fourth and sixth place respectively from their opening league games so did not make the play off stages on this occasion.
Our thanks go to the many coaches, umpires, parents and friends who helped us run this event particularly Lisa McQuade who demonstrated excellent “speed writing” talents when I had to re-hash the schedules at the last minute due to three extra teams turning up un-announced and for rushing around to distribute them to all teams. As a result of all club helpers getting involved in all the various aspects of a tournament the event ran comparatively smoothly – thanks again for your invaluable help.
We may have lost TWELVE hockey balls, had to supply FOURTEEN ice packs to soothe various bumps and sprains, supplied a FEW sticking plasters, survived COUNTLESS anxious moments ……. but we made MANY kids happy – SO THAT MADE IT ALL WORTHWHILE.
Keith Forster.