Match Reports: Girls' Hockey and Boys' Rugby against Strathallan

Match Reports for games against Strathallan

Saturday, 13th September 2025

Girls' Hockey

1st Team

With the start delayed, play eventually got underway at about 2.45. Belhaven had the hit-off and it was agreed to play four, ten minute quarters. Having spent quite a bit of time working on getting the ball to the right wing early from any restart, coach was slightly dismayed when it was immediately moved to the left! Fortunately, it ended up being effective and the girls were quickly on the attack. Strath managed to break down that attack and for the next few minutes play swept up and down the pitch. 

So, an exciting, good game of hockey and a pleasing result. What was most pleasing, however, was the way the girls tried to get the ball wide, how they kept their work-rate high, how they improved with every minute and how they reacted to advice. They are showing good promise and I’m excited for the rest of the season.

U11A Team

The girls had a superb start to the season! After only a few training sessions together and only a friendly game with each other, they really impressed me. We made our way down to Dunbar Grammar hockey pitch for our matches and had a thorough warm up whilst waiting for our opposition to arrive.

After a quick stop for some oranges at half time they girls were ready to take on the second part of this thrilling match. I moved everyone around as I wanted to see how some would play in areas of the pitch that they don’t normally, sometimes into positions that I know aren’t their favourites. I do this because I want to see how all the girls play on every part of the pitch. There might be someone who loves to play up front and is good up front but when I put them in defence and they do a really wonderful job, they discover they have some strong defensive skills. I think it is really important for the girls to develop skills in every aspect of hockey.

U11B Team

Belhaven U11b 6 - 1 Strathallan

Today’s first run-out for the U11b girls saw a comfortable win against Strathallan.  We raced into a 2-0 lead through Carlotta and Mary sweeping home after some hesitant defending from the Perth side.  However, we let Strath back into the game as a tame shot slipped underneath Arabella kicking foot to make the game 2-1.  And so the score remained for the remainer of the rest of the half, with the girls from both teams getting their feet in the way far too much.  Just before half-time Dulcie, and Mary again tucked the ball home to embellish the score for the home team.

I spoke to the team at half-time about the need to watch our feet, to get the ball out wide and, as defenders, to control the ball before hitting it back out.  It made little difference to the second half but I felt better for having said it.

The game was fairly even in the second period but we were generally on top, hit the post a couple of times and Dulcie again, and finally Carmen got on the scoreboard to round off a straightforward 6-1 win.

Player of the Match: Dulcie for the most technical skill and her tenacity.

Boys' Rugby

1st Team

The weather was biblical on the way to the match in Perth this Saturday. The downpours drenching the road and causing a sense of trepidation as to what would await us in Perthshire. But, apart from a little drizzle the conditions were good for rugby and Belhaven kicked off their season against our hosts for the day.

Belhaven started quickly with some good attacking play resulting in a driving run for Patrick who appeared to dot the ball down for the score despite some Strathallan protestations. Satiago was then to finish off the next three for Belhaven with good leg drive for his first, a breakaway try for this second, and a neat cross-field kick from Wilbur and race to the line for the third. Xander scored with a fine finish to seal the half time score in Belhaven’s favour.

  

  
Final score: Strathallan 19 – 46 Belhaven

  
Coach’s thoughts: 
This was a very encouraging start for the team. It is a starkly different line-up to the one that we had last year with seven players making their debut. However, the same team ethos and determination remained. I said mistakes were OK today, but good attitude was non-negotiable. Just like performing a piece of music, the first note was as important as the last. Wow did they deliver that performance. The two players who wracked up the tries were excellent today but the work-rate of Juan, Ralph, Patrick, Wilbur, and Fred to name a few cannot go unnoticed as tackle after tackle was executed brilliantly. There is still a lot to develop with this team but they can and should take confidence in what is a powerful statement at the start of the season. 

2nd Team

2nd Team beat Strathallan 51 - 20

It was Belhaven’s first match of the season, but it was Strathallan’s third match. However, we soon found out that Strathallan were not as strong as we expected.

The first try was scored by Gaston, in his first rugby match ever! Alfonso scored the second try by running through the whole Strathallan team. Next, Lukas made a good run, offloaded to Carlos and the try was scored by Fernando, converted by Tommy. Strathallan retaliated and scored a try. Kaspar scored the fourth try, running from the halfway line.

The fifth try was scored by Aubrey, and the sixth try by Tommy from a good offload by Gaston. The seventh try was also Aubrey’s. Strathallan scored again, but Kaspar scored again, with an excellent run up the wing. Alfonso ran up the wing to score again, and Finley scored a conversion with an amazing drop kick! Gaston scored the tenth try, which was also converted by Finley! Strathallan scored again, and converted the try.

Try scorers: