ELGIN ACADEMY CLINCH SCOTTISH SCHOOLS TITLE 2024
Many congratulations to Elgin Academy (Fraser Rankin, Ben Rankin, Owen Watson, Lillia Clarke) (Moray) who are the Scottish Schools champions 2024. They beat St Josephs College (Zak Trotter, Jessica Trotter, Jason Mann, Teagan Smith) (Dumfries) in the final at Curl Aberdeen.
Elgin Academy were off to a flyer and collected three successive wins to start off their campaign in Section D.However, defeat in their final fixture saw them finish on six points tied with George Watsons College (Amy Seftor, Julia Broadwood, Alex Mackie, Joey Breeze) (Curl Edinburgh) and Kinross High School (Holly Clemie, Clare Cassells, Rachel Eadie, Isla Clemie) (Kinross). With all three having beaten each other, the ranking went to ends with Elgin Academy topping the standings on 16. However, on 13 each there was still nothing to separate George Watsons College and Kinross High School, the decision going to S/U numbers and ending in the former’s favour.
Things were far more straightforward in Section C for St Josephs College who won all of their games for an undisputed top of the table. Banchory Academy (Luke Perras, Finlay McGregor, Amber Perras, Evie McGregor) (Curl Aberdeen) came runners-up on a three in one record.
Over in Section B, Perth Academy (Dewars, Perth) were flying and concluded an unbeaten run through the group at the top of the standings. Forfar Academy – Sky Blue (Callie Soutar, Jamie Jones, Arran Bruce, Gregor Troup) (Forfar) won all but their game versus Perth Academy and progressed to the play-offs as runners-up.
It was a similar story in Section A were there was no way past High School of Dundee (Calum Skea, Donald Robertson, Keir Chalmers, Ben Watson, Morag Skea) (Dundee) who finished on a perfect four wins. One win short, Kelso High School (Emma Neill, Douglas Redpath, Ben Scott, Rosie Letham) (Border) had to settle for second but also progressed to the quarter-finals.
Elgin Academy were in excellent form in their quarter-final versus Banchory Academy, taking control with five points in End 2 and never looking back from there. St Josephs College just had the edge over George Watsons College in a 5-3 game while Perth Academy and Kelso High School were tied at halftime before the former recorded successive threes for the win. Finally, Forfar Academy – Sky Blue were up by six points at the halfway stage and there was no way back into the game for High School of Dundee.
The semi-final fixture between Elgin Academy and Perth Academy was all square at halftime. Elgin Academy opened the second half with a single steal that would eventually prove crucial as the sides went on to trade deuces in the last two ends, 5-4 in the Moray outfit’s favour standing as the final result. Next door, St Josephs College had an excellent start versus Forfar Academy – Sky Blue, scoring three, forcing, and scoring two. Forfar Academy – Sky Blue responded with a three to open the second half, but when St Josephs College got another two on the board, the game was over.
Elgin Academy and St Josephs College traded singles to open the final before Elgin Academy took control with a steal of three. St Josephs College opened the second half with a two to cut the gap, but another three went Elgin Academy’s way in End 7 and decided the game, 7-3 the final result.
