The 2011 UK School games squads continued their preparations for this year’s championships, competing in a four team tournament at Ravenscraig Sports Centre. Welcome opposition was provided by Northern Ireland and a representative team from the Young Seniors squads.
The YS teams have all been over the course before in terms of UK School Games, and their greater experience was the telling factor in the eventual results, as both boys and girls squads won their respective competitions, without conceding a set.
However they were pushed hard for their victories by the younger teams, in particular Scotland South & West, who took the runner-up spot in both events. Northern Ireland started slowly, possibly as a consequence of their overnight trip to Scotland, but by the end of the day they were firing on all cylinders and should be well prepared by the time of the championships proper. Meanwhile Scotland North & East showed promise in their encounters, and will take heart from some excellent individual performances.
The matchday was enhanced by the presence of the Referees Commission who were running a Grade 2 match officials course. All four candidate referees conducted the matches in great spirit, and showed a good understanding of the rules and art of refereeing.
The next stop for the School Games teams is a two day residential training camp at St Andrews University, with the Games themselves just three weeks away.
Match results:
Boys Competition
| Scotland Young Seniors | 2 | Scotland East & North | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 0 | Scotland West & South | 2 |
| Scotland Young Seniors | 2 | Scotland West & South | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 1 | Scotland East & North | 2 |
| Scotland Young Seniors | 2 | Northern Ireland | 0 |
| Scotland West & South | 2 | Scotland East & North | 1 |
1st. – Scotland Young Seniors
2nd – Scotland West & South
3rd – Scotland East & North
4th – Northern Ireland
Girls Competition
| Scotland Young Seniors | 2 | Scotland East & North | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 0 | Scotland West & South | 2 |
| Scotland Young Seniors | 2 | Scotland West & South | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 2 | Scotland East & North | 1 |
| Scotland Young Seniors | 2 | Northern Ireland | 0 |
| Scotland West & South | 2 | Scotland East & North | 0 |
1st – Scotland Young Seniors
2nd – Scotland West & South
3rd – Northern Ireland
4th – Scotland East & North
Steve Scott
Team Manager, Scotland West & South Boys
