Spurs claim hockey’s Polson knockout

Spurs defeated Burra 3-2 in the final to win senior hockey’s knockout competition for the Lizzie Polson Memorial Shield.

Lizzie Polson Memorial Shield

Burra 2, Spurs 3

Burra started with great deter–mination and put Spurs under pressure with some lovely passing. Gayle Johnson, Susan Morrison and Irene Gray in the Spurs defence had to be on their toes but they managed to handle the Burra attack well, clearing the ball to safety. Burra gained a number of short corners and Stacey Laurenson was unlucky not to score, smashing the ball just wide of the Spurs goal.

Spurs settled more with Fiona Shearer and Morag Fox working well in the midfield and in the 24th minute they broke the deadlock with Sarah Grogan getting her name on the score sheet.

The second half started at a fast pace with end-to-end play. Kristen Jeromson put Spurs 2-0 up after six minutes with a lovely strike on goal. Burra didn’t lose heart and they battled on with Joyce Adamson, Sarah Young and Kayti Jeromson working tirelessly in midfield. Stacey Laurenson played a great through ball to Kristan Robertson who sneaked the ball between the post and Elaine Angus in the Spurs goal.

Great play between Gayle Johnson and Morag Fox down the right wing saw the ball being played into Kristen Jeromson who made no mistake to get her second goal of the night.

Josie Jamieson was always a threat to the Spurs defence, using her speed to get into the circle. She was unlucky not to score as her shot was saved and bounced back to Kristan Robertson who played it back into the circle where Joyce Adamson smashed the ball into the Spurs goal.

Kirsty Halcrow, Melanie Couper, Louise Kok and Julia Halcrow kept strong in the Burra defence to hinder Spurs on their attacks. As full-time approached Burra were looking to equalise but Spurs stayed composed until the final whistle to win 3-2.

The Lizzie Polson Memorial Shield was presented by Kate Moncrieff, the late Mrs Polson’s great-grand-daughter, to a delighted Spurs captain Fiona Shearer.

Grutness Trophy Single League

Scalloway 0, Spurs 2

A fast flowing game saw Scalloway start strongly with Spurs taking time to settle. Some scrappy challenges in the opening minutes frustrated both teams, keeping the game in the centre of the park.

Scalloway’s Nicola Smith, Sarah Groat and Michaela Johnson worked well off the ball to create space and spread the ball wide across the pitch and Scalloway linked together well.

Spurs built up a strong attack with Gayle Johnson and Fiona Shearer involved in moving the ball through to Morag Fox and Sarah Grogan who claimed Spurs first penalty corner of the night. The Scalloway defence moved out fast with keeper Christine Georgeson reacting extremely well to the first shot. Sarah Grogan pounced on the rebound but Scalloway’s Georgia Laurenson was perfectly placed on the back post to clear the ball off the back line resulting in a second penalty corner which Fox sent wide.

Spurs started to dominate play in the remaining 20 minutes of the first half, but strong, concentrated defending from Cyndi Pottinger kept the attack out of the Scalloway circle.

Scalloway continued to work tirelessly as a unit and pressurise the Spurs side defensive. Naomi Johnson pounced on a Spurs defensive error to pick out Michaela Johnson in right midfield who drove into the circle to send a strong direct pass into Rowan Nicolson. She reacted quickly but unfortunately Spurs keeper Elaine Smith watched the ball sail past her right post.

Scalloway’s Nicolson continued to pressurise Smith in goals who managed to sight a number of successive close range shots. Fantastic defending from Scalloway managed to keep Spurs’ three successive penalty corners out of the back of the net with Mel Inkster and Lauren Anderson reacting fast, Georgeson making fantastic saves and Pottinger and Laurenson protecting their line. Spurs were starting to become frustrated and wondered if they were ever going to score.

In the dying seconds of the first half Scalloway picked up the pace a Laurenson 16-yard hit out found Vicki Henderson. However, the attack which was cut short with a fantastic tackle from Spurs defender Louise Moar and the game finished 0-0 at half time. Spurs, visibly rattled by the strong Scalloway first half performance, started to become increasingly vocal and frustrated.

Fiona Shearer and Kristen Jeromson of Spus drove forward again and Shearer was left one on one with the keeper but with a rush of blood to the head watched in despair as her shot sailed wide.

With Jeromson and Shearer determined to find a way past Scalloway the pace of Jeromson allowed her time on the ball for a reverse stick shot but Georgeson was there again to keep her sheet clean.

Mel Inkster picked out a fantastic cross pitch pass to Kate Moncrieff to start another Scalloway attack and with Naomi Johnson, Nicola Smith and Michaela Johnson working well together the passes were flowing and Elaine Smith was called upon again to prevent Scalloway scoring.

Spurs were awarded a further two penalty corners and were eventually celebrating after a goal mouth scuffle. Georgeson was unable to sight the ball and with Jeromson placed tight on the post tapped the ball into the right corner for the opening goal.

Spurs second goal came after the last Scalloway defender on the line unfortunately gave away a penalty flick which was struck home nicely by Rona Simpson.

Players of the match were keeper Christine Georgeson for Scalloway and Kristen Jeromson for Spurs.

Burra 2, Delting 0

The latest meeting of the two after a run of evenly-matched games saw some brilliant play from both sides with Jill Hibbert, Brenda Leask and Julie Kirkness creating the Delting play. A great solo run from Burra’s Josie Jamieson up the park finished with a superb goal just before the half time whistle.

The second half started with excellent play from both teams with the danger being kept out of goals from Burra keeper Sarah Couper and Delting’s Toni Sidgwick. A long corner for Burra resulted in Kristan Robertson slotting another goal home to make it 2-0.

The Burra defence of Melanie Couper, Kayti Jeromson, Vicky Anderson and Louise Kok worked hard to keep Delting’s Leask and Hibbert from scoring before the final whistle.

Players of the match were Burra’s Josie Jamieson and Delting’s Brenda Leask who stood out for both sides and worked hard for their teams.

Fixtures Monday – Grutness Trophy: Scalloway v Whalsay at 6.30pm (Helen Robertson/Delting rep); Delting v Zetland at 7.50pm (Kerri Redfern/Whalsay rep).

Thursday – Shearer Shield: Scalloway v Delting at 6.30pm (Simon Skinner/Burra rep); Burra v Whalsay at 7.50pm (Simon Skinner/Scalloway rep).

Would all players please take note of the following deadlines for entry into the remaining tournaments for the season.

Mid Brae Inn Cup – 11-a-side knockout, 10.30am to 3.30pm on Saturday 29th August: deadline Friday 21st August.

Town Hall seven-a-side knockout tournament 6.30pm to 8.30 approx on Thursday 3rd September: deadline Thursday 27th August.

Seven-a-side mixed single league 10am to 2pm on Saturday 12th and 19th September: deadline Friday 4th September.