WGMA European Championships
San Cugat, Spain 22-24 March 2008
Back row: Andrew, McLernan, Aird, DiRollo, Margerison*, Morrice, Strachan*, George Dunbar
Front row: Bremner, Cassell, Fraser, Keddie (C), Forster
*underage players given dispensation by WGMA to play in the older agegroup
Sat 22 March
13:00 England 0:0 Scotland
17:30 Scotland 0:1 Germany
Sun 23 March
13:30 Netherlands 1:0 Scotland
Mon 24 March
12:00 3rd/4th playoff Scotland 0:2 Netherlands
12:45 1st/2nd playoff - winners England
McLernan outpaces the Netherlands defence
The Over 65 squad was depleted by the sad loss of Jim White, whose funeral took place in Linlithgow on the practice day before the start of the tournament. David Margerison and Alan Strachan were drafted in from the Over 60 squad to make the numbers more even. Both squads observed a minute's silence at the time of the funeral in honour of a kind, gentle and skilful member who will be sadly missed.
WGMA gave special permission to 'promote' two of the over 60s to the over 65s squad, which gave a good account of itself while still finishing fourth out of four in a keenly contested Great Grand Masters tournament.
Only the lack of finishing power let the team down as they had at least an equal share of the play in all their games - without goals it is not possible to win tournaments. Paradoxically, the best result was against the eventual winners, England, the tightly fought opening game ending in a scoreless draw.