SIX Borders secondary schools took part in the South Schools indoor tournament last Saturday with some top-class, fast-paced hockey on show.
Section one comprised Berwickshire HS, Selkirk HS and Galashiels Academy, and proved to be a tight section, with each team winning one and losing one game and all with the same score of 2-1. This resulted in a three-way penalty stroke competition with Berwickshire coming out on top, Selkirk second and Galashiels in third place.
Hawick HS, Peebles HS and Kelso HS made up the other section and after a goalless draw between the first two named teams, Kelso dominated the play in this group.
Against Hawick, they pressed hard from the beginning and were rewarded with several penalty corners, from which captain Claire Hill, with devastating accuracy, scored three goals. Others came from Gina Ramsay (2), Lucy Ramsay, Kate Lesenger, Jennie Robson and Hill again, with Hawick managing two in reply to make the final score 9-2.
The Tweedsiders continued in the same manner against Peebles with Lucy Ramsay (3), Hill (2), Gina Ramsay and Robson all finding the net in a 7-0 victory.
BHS beat PHS 2-0 in the first semi-final.
The second saw Kelso up against the Souters. The Ramsay twins hit a goal apiece in the first half, and in the second, a well injected corner by Kirsty Veitch saw her slot the ball into the back of the net, before Selkirk gained their own penalty, enabling Emily Newlands to score with a beautifully-struck ball from the top of the D. Lucy Ramsay wrapped up the game for Kelso with another goal from the set-piece to make it 4-1.
The third-placed teams in each section then took each other on in a very closely contested game, but on this occasion it was Hawick, always looking more dangerous on the break, who came out on top of Galashiels Academy by 2-0.
The final then took place between Berwickshire and Kelso, and despite working hard to contain their opponents, the Duns outfit were unable to prevent Hill scoring first from a corner and then from a well-placed penalty stroke to make the half-time score 2-0.
The second half saw Gina Ramsay, in scintillating form, scoring first from a penalty corner and then three goals from open play in as many minutes.
Not to be outdone, twin sister Lucy added two, the second of which was her trademark reverse stick flick shot high over the keeper’s head, which made the final score 8-0 to Kelso.
Kelso High School: Hannah Fletcher, Rhona Forbes, Claire Hill, Kate Lesenger, Gina Ramsay, Lucy Ramsay, Jeanie Robertson, Jennie Robson, Kirsty Veitch.