Home Internationals 2017 - Over 60

Scotland Grand Masters were defending second place and looking to challenge England for the top honour in the Grand Masters competition held at King George V Playing Fields, Swansea on 30 June to 2 July 2017. In the end, they gave England a run for their money but lost out at the very end of their match against the Auld Enemy. Wins against Wales and Ireland gave Scotland a solid second place.

Friday 30 June
England Flag England O60 2 Scotland Flag Scotland O60 1 (Morrison)

Scotland Grand Masters, playing in the last round of matches on the first day of the tournament, went at England Over 60s from the start of the match, the English keeper having to deal with three good shots in the opening minutes. England fought back and a turnover in the Scottish 25 led to an opener for England. It was England's turn to press in the second quarter but the Scotland defence and keeper dealt well with their opponents until another turnover ball in midfield let England in to score a second goal. Scotland were not out of it by any means and pulled back a goal scored by Bernie Morrison from close range after a short corner. The Scottish short corner defence was put under severe pressure when England were awarded a short corner right on the half time whistle but twice Scotland defenders saved shots on the line before the ball was finally cleared out of the circle to end the half with England 2-1 up.

The second half ebbed and flowed with neither team creating many open play opportunities, and Scotland successfully defended two penalty corners. In the final quarter, Scotland brought pressure on themselves when two green cards and one yellow in succession were dished out, leaving them with ten men for nine minutes of the quarter. Even so, Scotland fashioned one last chance in the final minute of the match, but could not quite find the back of the net. The match had been played at a high tempo and the two sides were not far apart. Scotland have lessons to learn about retaining possession but the result and manner of play must be a good omen for the European Cup to be held in August 2017 in Glasgow.

Saturday 1 July Scotland Flag Scotland O60 2 (Sturrock, Ogilvie) Welsh Flag Wales O60 1

The Grand Masters team totally dominated the first half against the host nation but had only two goals, from a Niall Sturrock short corner and an open play goal by Alistair Ogilvie, to show for it. The second half was a nervy affair, Wales pulling a goal back from a short corner. Scotland reverted to trying to force the ball, forgetting the style of play that had created so many chances in the first half. However the match finished 2-1 in Scotland's favour and left them needing a result in their final match against Ireland to retain the second place they had won in 2016.

Sunday 2 July All Ireland Flag Ireland O60 0 Scotland Flag Scotland O60 5 (Johnstone, Ogilvie 2, Taylor 2)

In the early morning of the last day of the tournament, Scotland Grand Masters arrived determined not to repeat the lacklustre performance in the second half the previous day, and turned up right from the start as they had against England. It took only two minutes for them to go ahead from their first short corner. In a training ground move, the ball was switched right to John Candlin who trapped to allow Glenn Paton to test the Irish keeper with a shot. The ball rebounded to Derek Johnstone who volleyed it into the net to put Scotland in the driving seat. A further early goal took the stuffing out of the Irish, who had snatched victory over Scotland in the Celtic Cup earlier in the year. Fine interplay among Niall Sturrock, Alasdair McArthur and Billy Taylor down the left led to Billy's finding Alistair Ogilvie at the far post to slip the goal past the Irish keeper. Scotland Over 60s went on to dominate the match with a fine display of free flowing hockey, building up from the back and resisting the temptation to force the game as they had in their Celtic Cup match in Cork, in which Ireland had scored a breakaway goal and sat in to frustrate Scotland and take the trophy. Scotland gained their revenge, running up five goals without reply. Scotland consolidated their lead in the second quarter when Arthur Robertson burst into the circle on the left and crashed in a magnificent, rising shot which might have been net bound. Billy Taylor, with the finest deflection in mid air, changed the course of the ball and left the keeper helpless - 3-0 to Scotland at half time.

Two further goals came in the second half. Alistair Ogilvie took advantage of a mistake by the Ireland sweeper, intercepting his crossfield sixteen yard pass to the Irish right back, rounding the keeper and scoring into the empty net with his reverse stick.The last goal was a peach: good build up play found Glenn Paton on the ball and he slipped a pass to Bernie Morrison on the left just outside the Irish circle. Bernie took the ball into the circle, drew the keeper and slipped a reverse stick pass to his Gordonians team mate for Billy to slot the ball home. Revenge for Scotland after their disappointment in the Celtic Cup, and a 5-0 victory to finish the Home Internationalsand set them up for a good performance in the European Cup in August.

Final Table

  P W D L F A Pt GD
England 3 3 0 0 13 2 9 11
Scotland 3 2 0 1 8 3 6 5
Ireland 3 1 0 2 2 10 3 -9
Wales 3 0 0 3 3 13 0 -10

Squad

Hew Bishop, John Candlin, Ali Hay, John Hay, Derek Johnstone, Alasdair McArthur, Ian McCreath, Bernie Morrison, Ali Ogilvie, Danny Onn, Glenn Paton, Arthur Robertson, David Rowlands, Ronnie Stott, Niall Sturrock, Billy Taylor, Chris Taylor, Ian Wilson. Ben Gibson was originally selected but had to withdraw and Alasdair McArthur took his place.