SOUTH of Scotland hockey was put firmly on the map on Saturday as the Under 14 team upset the apple cart at the Inter District tournament in Edinburgh.

For the first time in the history of the tournament the South girls made the semi-finals.

Then, dispatching with opposition South-west, they marched on into the final.

The 18-girl squad from across the Borders were selected after rigorous trials and had put in a great deal of hard work from coach Janet Jack.

Drawn in Pool B, with East, West and North the girls were fully aware of the task in front of them but each member was focussed and ready to work.

First up the girls faced East - a tough start but the girls were determined not to be intimidated by their reputation.

A cracking goal by Blythe Duff, just five minutes into the game gave the team the confidence boost they needed.

Nerves were steadied and they went into half time 1-0 up.

East replied with a goal of their own five minutes into the second half and despite the best efforts of the South girls, netting the ball past a pretty proficient Goalie proved impossible.

A 1-1 draw was a fabulous result for the girls and certainly kept the mood high in the camp.

Against North the girls struggled to find their shape and the opposition were perhaps feistier than had been anticipated - a much needed goal, struck by captain Holly Shepherd, just on the half time whistle, was most welcome!

Again South dominated the second half of the game but shots on goal were just a little too wide.

After 15 minutes the South were victorious 1-0.

Having been following the results of others in the Pool the South coaches knew they had to win or draw against West to proceed to the semi-finals.

A West goal two minutes from half-time could have unsettled the girls but it did the opposite, driven on and firing on all cylinders a well worked team move, which began when defence cleared the ball, resulted in a cracking shot, again on the half-time whistle from Hannah Patterson.

West pressed hard in the second half but they had met their match and the fulltime score was a 1-1 draw.

History was made at this point as no U14 South team before them had made the semi-finals of an Inter District hockey tournament.

Winners of Pool A, South West were ready and had clearly done their homework.

They had some strong physical players and did well to block the South attack.

Two short corners were awarded in quick succession with the second resulting in another Holly Shepherd goal.

South were now only 15 minutes away from the final. With no more goals scored they had gone where no South player had gone before.

Results from the other semi, where West were victorious meant that they faced them once more.

With 22 girls all keen to grab a gold medal the pace was fast and furious, the teams, as we knew, were well matched and the half-time score sat at 0-0. Eleven minutes in to the second half South fought hard but were unable to clear a very hard shot from a short corner.

With four minutes left on the clock the Borderers gave it their all but the West defence stood firm leading to their only defeat of the day.

Janet Jack was effervescent in her praise for the talented and committed group of young ladies. She said: "They train hard, absorb all advice, support one another and are true team players; each and every one of them deserved success."

Much to the delight of all the South supporters the girls were presented their runners up medals by fellow Borderer and now GB squad member, Sarah Robertson, from Selkirk.