Delting unbeaten in Rosebowl

Delting continue to lead the way in senior hockey’s Association Rose­bowl competition, although the Brae team were made to work hard this week to overcome Juniors. Burra, meanwhile, were unlucky to sustain two defeats at the hands of Whalsay and Juniors. The Lizzie Polson Shield 11-a-side knockout tourna­ment began with Scalloway defeating Whalsay.

Association Rosebowl

Whalsay 3, Burra 2

Whalsay started strongly, im­mediately pressuring the Burra defence, and Helen Fullerton pulled off numerous great saves. Their defence communicated well and Burra began to find their form, with good linking play from Julie Keith and Josie Jamieson up front. Whalsay continued to work hard with Victoria Duthie and Maree Simpson making runs up the right wing to feed in to the forwards.

Against the run of play Burra made a counter attack to secure a short corner and Stacey Laurenson delivered a superb strike to take the lead. Within the next minute, Burra stole possession from the pass-back and Laurenson again took a powerful shot at goal which with the help of a wicked deflection found the backboard.

Whalsay came out fighting in the second half with Angelina Jamieson finding space in the circle to slot a goal past the keeper. Julia Halcrow in Burra’s defence worked hard to intercept Whalsay’s advances but it was through Jamieson again that the greens equalised.

With the game evenly poised, both teams were pushing forward for the winner. Burra’s front line were continually thwarted by strong blocking tackles by Dianne Shearer, whose distribution of the ball enabled Natalie Polson to score the winner with a firm sweep from the edge of the circle.

Players of the match were Julia Halcrow for Burra and Dianne Shearer for Whalsay.

Delting 2, Juniors 1

Delting knew they had to put the pressure on early, and did so with some quick passing around the back and midfield and using the full width of the pitch.

Donna Murray took an early opportunity 20 minutes in to fire the ball toward goal from the top of the D, slotting neatly past juniors goalie Jessica Bradley.

Juniors stepped up the pace to fight back, but four minutes later found themselves two behind.

After brilliant link play from Jill Hibbert and Jillian Copland the ball was released and swiftly travelled through the midfield towards the forwards, Murray scor­ing again.

Juniors started the second half well and got off to a good start when Zoe Irvine passed the ball just outside the top D for Megan Jamieson to push into the goalmouth. Debbie Sneddon also had a number of cracking runs down the wing for the juniors but the Delting defence were quick off the mark to channel her out of the danger zone.

Players of the match for Juniors were Debbie Sneddon and for Delting Michelle Stark.

Juniors 2, Burra 0

Juniors started the game con­fidently with strong link-up play from Debbie Sneddon and Margaret Johnston. Burra did well to keep the Juniors attack at bay with good clearances from Julia Halcrow. Karen McKelvie and Josie Jamieson were a constant threat to the Juniors defence.

Despite that the Juniors calmly managed the pressure effectively and held their ground to minimise Burra’s shots at goal. Jessica Bradley of Juniors had a fantastic game in goals, covering and saving every shot aimed at goal, making it very hard for Burra to have success.

The game continued with end-to-end play but Juniors managed to force an error in the Burra circle, resulting in a short corner which Rhiannon Inkster capitalised on to open the scoring.

Burra continued with determined play, Kristan Robertson, Josie Jamie­son and Stacey Laurenson showing their skills and playing very efficiently, but their attempts were halted by the Juniors defence and by the brave saves of Jessica Bradley.

Juniors gained another penalty corner which Hannah Irvine man­aged to get on the end of to make the score 2-0.

Burra continued to push but Bradley was too good in goals, allowing no shots to be converted.

Players of the match were Jessica Bradley for Juniors and Sarah Young for Burra.

Lizzie Polson Shield

Scalloway 2, Whalsay 0

Whalsay won the pass back and immediately started to put pressure on Scalloway with good passing from Maree Simpson on the right through to Maggie Kay Irvine and Alison Williamson in midfield. With great encouragement from Kerri Redfern, Scalloway’s defence held tight and kept Whalsay for scoring.

Scalloway made a break with good linking passes between Naomi Johnson, Nicola Smith and Mhari Moncrieff in midfield through to forwards Amanda Cumming and Melaine Inkster who applied pressure on Whalsay’s defence which worked tirelessly to keep them out.

Scalloway opened the scoring with an excellent cross into the circle from Nicola Smith to Amanda Cumming who found the back of the net. Whalsay were determined not to let this hinder them and continued to push forward into Scalloway’s circle but again Scal­loway’s defence were too strong and prevented them from evening the score.

Scalloway started the second half with great determination as they knew Whalsay would be looking to even the scoring as early as possible in the game. With some lovely balls being sent from Scalloway’s defence through to their forwards it was not long before a penalty corner was awarded. Kate Moncrieff passed the ball out to Kerri Redfern who took a shot at goal which keeper Shona Moncrieff saved and after a scramble in the circle, Hannah Burgess found the back of the net to give Scalloway a 2-0 lead.

Whalsay fought back tirelessly with brilliant play from their midfield through to Eileen Sand­ison, Alison Williamson and Angelina Sandison but once again Scalloway’s defence of Redfern, Cyndi Pottinger, Lauren Anderson and Anne-Marie Robinson kept them from scoring before the final whistle went.

Players of the match were Alison Williamson for Whalsay and Scalloway’s Anne-Marie Robin­son.

Fixtures

Monday – Association Rose­bowl: Scalloway v Whalsay at 6.30pm (Helen Robertson/Juniors rep); Zetland v Juniors at 7.50pm (Kerri Redfern/Whalsay rep).

Thursday – Association Rose­bowl: Whalsay v Zetland at 6.30pm (Simon Skinner/Janice Johnston); Spurs v Burra at 7.50pm (Simon Skinner/Janice Johnston).

Training Former international coach Douglas Reid will be back in Shetland this weekend to take sessions, all costing £2.

Tonight: senior inter-county trial, 6pm to 8pm.

Tomorrow: boys’ and girls’ training, eight to 18-year- olds, 10am to noon; goalkeeping training, 12 years and over, noon to 12.45pm; open male/female training, over-18s, 1.15pm to 3.30pm.

For further information and to book a place on the sessions scheduled for tomorrow players can either register with their club or register on the day.

A coach is being provided tomorrow, leaving Lerwick at 9.15am with pick-ups at the Halfway House at 9.40am and Voe at 9.45am; cost £2 per person.

For further details contact Shet­land Ladies Hockey Association president Helen Robertson on (01595) 695357.