"Comprehensive" Win For Lochaber High In Hockey Cup Final
Lochaber High School’s Under 18 boys’ hockey team made history on Thursday by being the first Highland school and only the second state school ever to lift the Scottish Schoolboys’ Hockey Cup. In a nailbiting final at Edinburgh, Lochaber High won a dramatic penalty shoot out after their match with George Watson’s, Edinburgh, ended 2-2 at full time.
Skipper Yan Adams lifted the trophy to the delight of the travelling support, who provided vocal backing for their team, and it was proudly paraded at school assembly today (Friday).
The Lochaber team were rocked by a goal in only 30 seconds by George Watson’s. They soon found their feet and Yan Adams equalised from the penalty spot. The Edinburgh school soon regained the lead only for Euan Tregaskis to again equalise.
This was the score at half time and despite close things at either end the game finished 2-2. The match went straight to penalties and Lochaber goalkeeper, Barnaby Barber was the hero saving the two final shots from George Watson’s.
Head Teacher of Lochaber High School, Donnie Campbell, said: "This is a wonderful achievement for the team and the school. The boys played magnificently and they and the supporters were a credit to the school and to the Highlands."
There were 10 Scotland Junior squad players on show, four from Lochaber, in a top quality match.
The winning squad was:- Yan Adams; Craig Matheson; Stevie Sedgwick; Euan Tregaskis; Richard Finlayson; Lewis Gibson; Stuart Easton; Michael Hemm; Wei Adams; Daniel Davidson: David Childs: Charles Luxton: Barnaby Barber
The team is coached by Neil Adams, PT of Geography, and by 3 players from Lochaber men’s team, parent Steve Hemm along with Colin Fairbairn and Jim Treasurer.
Councillor Olwyn Macdonald, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Lochaber Area Committee, congratulated the team on their victory.
She said: "This is a remarkable achievement for the team. Lochaber is renowned for producing top shinty players but, thanks to the excellent coaches at the High School, the boys have very quickly taken to hockey and produced not only four Scotland squad players but a quality all round team. They have brought distinction to their school, to Lochaber and to the Highlands. Well done to them."