LOMOND School pupil Morven Rowan played a key role in the West District under 18s Girls Hockey squad's Inter-District Tournament win at Glasgow Green..

After six weeks of intense training and trials the team was ready to perform at the Tournament held at the Scottish Hockey Performance Centre at Glasgow Green.

Coached by Wendy Justice, from Craigholme School and managed by Margery Taylor, from Lomond School the squad consisted of two goalkeepers and 15 outfield players from eight different schools within the West District area.

On Saturday, October 1, West played their first match against North District and after a slow start they soon dictated the game with goals from Emma McDiarmid (2), Kayleigh Justice (Captain) and Lucy Findlay (vice-captain).

This was the perfect start to the tournament and West were ready to take on the hybrid team of players from East/Midlands/West.

Josie Sclater, from Lomond School did not make the final cut for the West team but had the chance to play in this hybrid team from the top three districts from last year’s tournament.

This new team coped well having just met each other on the day. West, however, proved their teamwork and scored early in the match through open play goals from Emma and Jessica Halley. Lucy and Morven completed the tally of four goals in their second match of the day.

Moving to pitch one at Glasgow Green, West played against Midlands for the final section match. West played very well in the first half, but did not manage to score any of their chances and as the game became more tense two players were caught not reacting quickly enough to the umpires and they were sent off having been warned for a minimum of two minutes.

During that time, Midlands controlled the match and after a few penalty corners, the ball hit one of the West players on the line and they were rewarded with a penalty stroke. Midlands scored the stroke and won 1-0. There was disappointment for West as they now finished second in their section, but they had all to play for in the semi-finals the next day.

On the Sunday, West played East for their place in the final. The squad played well throughout the match keeping good discipline and working well as a unit.

They attacked down the right hand side and found Lucy Findlay at the penalty spot who slotted the ball into the goal. Abi Harrowell soon made it two with Kayleigh also scoring from a set piece penalty corner.

In the second half, Marnie Richmond and Sammy Bell were also on the score sheet with excellent passes and opportunities created by the players round about them.

It finished 5-0 with both GKs and the whole squad playing well in this vital match.

In the other semi-final, Midlands lost to South West 1-2 and West played South West in the final of the Tournament.

This match was not as open as the semi-final with both teams creating chances. West scored their first goal from open play through a great through ball into the path of Abi who touched the ball past the GK.

In the second half, Lomond absorbed pressure and after winning a penalty corner it was Margery Justice who deflected the straight strike into the roof of the net to give West the 2-0 win.

Meanwhile, the hybrid team finished 5th out of 8 teams with Josie getting on the score sheet against Highland. The squad gelled well after a very short period of time and although they had no pressure on them they proved their strengths and skills throughout the tournament.