“FANTASTIC FINALS!!!!”

The 2007/8 Scottish National Finals weekend held at Wishaw Sport Centre on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th May 2008 was by all accounts ………..

“A wonderful show case for our Sport in Scotland.”
SVA Colin Mcginlay Interim President

Both days supported with special guest such as Lorne Sawula and Harry Brooking respective Women and Men’s GB head coaches, Scottish National and GB players, naming a few, Joanne Morgan, Lynne Beattie, Alistair Galloway and invited guests such Chris Robinson Project Manager of the Scottish Sports Association, all contributed to two days of passion, commitment and sporting excellence in the battle for teams to succeed.

The atmosphere in the hall for both days was electric with all teams bringing large pockets of support. Special mention must be given to the Junior Finals with all three clubs involved supplying bus loads of young supporters, drums, clapper sticks, whistles and plenty of feet stamping! The “grown ups” certainly knew how to celebrate as well as all eight Finals were noisy affairs.

Day one the start of a……….
day centred on the deciding matches for both the Thistle Bowl and Plate competitions. All four finals were tightly contested with four 1st division teams battling for the Thistle Bowl crown, Lenzie, Team Edinburgh, Kilmarnock and Team Fife and in the Plate competition a women’s team travelling from Orkney, local team Bellshill and two South Ayrshire teams in the respective men and women’s events. Team Edinburgh powered their way through a very tight Lenzie defence to win the Women’s Plate and a precise Kilmarnock won the Men’s Plate after a spirited fight from Team Fife.

Local Boys Bellshill Cardinals triumphed over the first South Ayrshire team final of the weekend in the men’s Plate and in women’s South Ayrshire reversed their clubs earlier disappointment and won a very close and spirited battle against the smiling team from Orkney.

Day two, only four titles……….
to be decided and much drama to unfold. The day began with an explosion of colour and determination in the Junior National League finals. South Ayrshire a club with four title dreams on Friday evening were sitting with one down and one won from the day before. The Women’s junior match was wonderful to watch, both teams, Marr College and South Ayrshire fought hard with South Ayrshire claiming the first prize of the day. The Boy’s match went all the way to a third set decider with the taller South Ayrshire team edging out a skilful City of Edinburgh.

Six finals completed and the last two, both proved to be as expected, the best, the hardest fought and most competitive of the whole weekend!!

The men and women’s Cup Final’s once more involved three clubs with South Ayrshire’s earlier dominance being taken over by Edinburgh’s Rucanor Jets. The Jets made strong starts in both finals demonstrating huge determination and conviction however in the women’s final Troon, Prestwick & Ayr very much dominated the net game and had some superb defensive pick-up’s which marks the Troon girls style of play.

The men’s final was a roller coaster of a match with neither side being able to break down their opponents until the very last set where a stronger Glasgow Mets triumphed over disappointed Jets.

The SVA would like to thank all players, coaches, clubs, referees, ball retrievers, supporters, invited guests, staff and volunteers who over the course of this weekend participated, performed, celebrated, commiserated and above all enjoyed eight Fantastic Finals.

Well done Scottish Volleyball, congratulations to the winners and role on next year!!!!!

Margaret Ann Fleming
CEO SVA

Photography © Lynne Marshall & Michael McConville