Scotland’s Caledonian Cougars men are ready to pounce into the GB Super League final this weekend by hunting down the Saxon Tigers at Edinburgh’s Peffermill playing fields.
 
After beating the Pennine Pumas and losing to Celtic Panthers in the first leg of the tournament last weekend in Cannock, the Cougars currently sit in second place. They push back against number one team, Saxon Tigers, at 15.00 Saturday. 
 
Cougar‘s coach, Callum Wood, said: “It’s an extra motivation to play in front of a home crowd and show we can play and win at a very high level.”

Scotland’s senior men’s coach Mathias Ahrens, who is acting as Team Leader for the Caledonian Cougars, is keeping a close eye on the squad. Ahrens said: “This weekend’s match will be hard, as the Cougars squad is pretty much the Scottish under 21 squad, whereas the Tigers are pretty much England’s A squad. I am confident that Scotland will win however, especially if the squad improve a bit defensively and finish chances.”

The Cougars have had two coaches this Super League tournament, Ahrens explained the set up: “I think it is absolutely fantastic that the GB Super League is not just about players’ development, it is also about coaches’ development. The Cougars squad has had the privilege of being trained by David Reid last weekend and Calum Wood for this weekend. Both were very good players who have turned to coaching and are doing very well.”

The Cougars have a chance to get in the final even if they lose Saturday’s match. It will depend on the final score, however, and the result of the other match, Pennine Pumas vs. Celtic Panthers. Cougars’ player Gavin Byres said: “We have got a good chance to get in the final. If we win, we get in.  Even if we don’t win we will still have a chance, if we can draw against the Tigers or even lose by a small margin we can still make it.”

It will not be an easy task though, as the Tigers have shown to be the strongest team so far. Byers added: “They have a lot of strong players in the fringes of the Great Britain team; they are experienced and have a lot of ability.”
 
However, Scotland’s Caledonian Cougars are strongly motivated to show what they can do in front of a home crowd. 

Coach Calum Wood concluded: “I am pretty confident; we are capable of winning this weekend’s matches especially with strong support.”

Scotland’s Caledonian Cougar’s women sit at the bottom of the ladies table, after losing to Pennine Pumas 2-1, followed by a 1-3 defeat to the Celtic Panthers last weekend.  Like the men’s squad, the lady Cougars are effectively Scotland’s U21 team, while the lady Celtic Panthers host five of Scotland’s senior women’s squad.

The young lady Cougars also face the Saxon Tigers at Peffermill Saturday, who like their male counter parts, are in first place.

Caledonian Cougars Men's Squad

Philip Carr - Oxted HC
Craig Ogilvie - Dunfermline Carnegie
Kristoffer Holmes - Menzieshill HC
Chris Nelson - Kelburne HC
Ross Stott - Kelburne HC
Andrew Sinclair - Inverlieth HC
Gavin Byres - Menzieshill HC
Kenny Bain - Kelburne HC
Michael Christie - Kelburne HC
Iain Scholefield - Kelburne HC
David Forsyth - Kelburne HC
Chris Grassick - Inverlieth HC
William Marshall - Kelburne HC
Gordon McIntyre - Kelburne HC
Joe Simpson - Western Wildcats
Yan Adams - Grange HC

Manager - Tom Johnston
Coach - David Reid
Assistant Coach - Callum Wood
Physio - Duncan Rear

Caledonian Cougars Women's Squad

Amy Gibson - Glasgow High Kelvinside
Donna Bruce - Edinburgh Cala
Isobel Rosie - Olton
Kimi Bright - Giffnock
Emily Bain - Edinburgh Cala
Kay Bartlett - Milne Craig Western
Susan Davidson - Edinburgh University
Nikki Kidd - Bonagrass Grove
Emily Maguire - Kelburne
Elspeth Cockburn - Milne Craig Western
Rosanna Innes - Sunderland
Amy Brodie - Edinburgh Cala
Rona Stewart - Edinburgh University
Rebecca Ward - Dundee Wanderers
Rebecca Merchant - Bonagrass Grove
Amy Rowan - Dundee Wanderers
Hannah Muir - Edinburgh Cala
Hollie Porter - Giffnock
Kareena Marshall - Giffnock
Susan McGilveray - Glasgow High Kelvinside
Katie Connor - Edinburgh University
Siobhan Prise - Edinburgh University
 
Manager - Sheila Gray
Coach - David Stott
Assistant Coach - Rhona Simpson
Physio - Juliet Wickham

Scots in Celtic Panthers squad

Ailsa Robertson - Bonagrass Grove
Louise Munn - Bonagrass Grove
Holly Cram - Milne Craig Western
Katie MacKay - Kelburne
Carmin Dow - Bonagrass Grove

PEFFERMILL Match Schedule
 
Saturday 26 April       
09:00 W Pumas   v   Panthers 
11:00 W Cougars   v   Tigers 
13:00 M Pumas   v   Panthers 
15:00 M Tigers   v   Cougars 
         
Sunday 27 April       
09:00 W 3rd   v   4th 
10:30 M 3rd   v   4th 
12:00 W FINAL       
14:00 M FINAL