PERTH ACADEMY 2 CLINCH SCOTTISH SCHOOLS TITLE

Congratulations to Perth Academy 2 (Sam McConnachie, Jamie Gorton, Christopher Hally, Stewart Hamilton) who are the Scottish Schools Champions for season 2022-23. They saw off Elgin Academy by a single point in the final to take the national schools title at Curl Aberdeen.

A busy round robin played over Friday and Saturday in three sections saw eight out of the 18 competing teams progress to the play-offs. Perth Academy 2 stormed to a dominant 12-0 win over local side Banchory Academy while George Watson’s College also collected a comprehensive victory, seeing off Forfar Academy Maroon 7-1. The remaining two quarter-finals were less clear-cut. Kinross High School and Perth High School traded singles in the early ends before the former managed to create a decisive advantage, scoring and stealing two each for an eventual 5-2 triumph. Meanwhile, Elgin Academy opened the scoring against Forfar Academy Sky Blue and gradually stretched out a gap to take the game 5-2.

The two semi-finals were a contrast of emotions with one effectively decided in the opening ends and one going down to the wire. Perth Academy 2 got threes on the board in the first two ends, leaving George Watson’s College with a mountain to climb. The capital side struggled to close the gap and Perth Academy 2 bagged an eventual 7-2 win. Meanwhile, it took until End 3 for the deadlock to break between Kinross High School and Elgin Academy, the latter scoring one. However, the second half delivered what the first lacked as Elgin Academy instantly stole three for a big lead. Kinross High School responded with a point in End 5 and even stole in the last end, but their single was not enough to stop their opposition from clinching victory by 4-2.

It all came down to a nail-biting final between Perth Academy 2 and Elgin Academy. The sides traded singles in the first two ends, but Perth Academy 2 dealt a major punch just before the break, adding a massive four points to their tally. They went on to steal a single at the restart that further stretched their advantage, but Elgin Academy were not done yet. The Moray outfit scored two in End 5, meaning they trailed by three with one end to go. Proceedings were tense and Elgin Academy did achieve a steal, however, they were short by a point and Perth Academy 2 clinched a 6-5 triumph.