Page 81 - RSDG Year of 2023

EAGLE AND CARBINE 79
This year has seen two major hockey events, both of a competitive nature. The first up in Leuchars which saw the Sqns battle it out for the top spot as part of the Moncrieff Shield, the second was a much smaller group who went down to the sunny (it rained the whole time) South of England at the home of Army Hockey in Andover for the Inter-Corps Hockey Tournament.
With the Comhla week in full flow and sports being played all over Leuchars, the sun shone on the 3G pitch as teams with wide ranges of experience with a hockey stick, took to the field to gain the highly sought after points that would see their Sqn claim the top silverware. With the OIC Hockey away, Capt Gale and Cpl Chinsen picked up the MEL and ran with it fantastically.
The first game saw blue pitted against red as A Sqn took on B. A very close game that ended in a 1-0 victory to the boys in blue – the officer heavy team coming through showing their experience. Next it was green on black as C Sqn, led by Sgt Dornan and 2Lt Graham AAC fought hard against Capt Gale’s HQ Sqn, in a high goal match that ended in a victory to HQ 3 goals to 1.
Cpl Chinsen must have got his eye in by this point after the narrow defeat to A Sqn, leading his team to an epic 5-0 win over C Sqn. Now rested for a game, A and HQ took to the pitch again. Capt Gale fighting hard but in the end, HQ lost by a single goal to Capt Lambert and his team of commissioned players.
As the day started to wrap up, A Sqn went on to beat C Sqn 2-0 and B Sqn beat HQ 1-0, paving the way for a final that was destined to be highly contested judging by the opening game – A Sqn would take on B Sqn the next day.
With the players rested and the OIC Hockey now back, albeit with a whistle rather than a stick, the final was as epic as anticipated. The referees feeling the heat (mostly from enthusiastic players) the match finished with a narrow win for A Sqn making them victors in the hockey element of the Moncrieff Shield. Special mentions to Cpl Chinsen, 2Lt Graham AAC and Capt Gale for their roles both on the pitch and off it enabling such a great contest.
Capt Alex “Pumice” Gale & Capt Ed “So-Close” Peppiatt take their (hockey) relationship to the next level
With years of hockey experience playing together, dating back to their glory days of Sandhurst, Capts Gale and Peppiatt decided it was time to take it to the next level and represent their Corps in the fiercely competitive Inter-Corps tournament at Andover. Played between the 9th and 11th of May, they took to the field alongside members of the Corps from the Royal Lancers, Light Dragoons, Household Cavalry, Kings Royal Hussars and the Army Air Corps.
The couple days were fantastic with games against the RLC, AGC, RA and RSIGS. The SCOTS DG MVP would have to go to Sgt Pearson who made the trip North from Bovington to represent both the Regiment and the RAC. The RAC / ACC combined team played extremely well, getting better after every game making it clear how much benefit is gained from experience playing together! With Capt Gale acting as the rock in defence (albeit at times perhaps displaying character- istics of pumice), Sgt Pearson controlling the game in midfield and Capt Peppiatt almost scoring on so many occasions – Scotland’s Cavalry were a crucial element to a highly talented team.
In the end they did not make it to the final, however it was an incredible experience nonetheless and one that will be looked to be repeated next year.
A relatively light year for SCOTS DG hockey, but one that has seen members from across the Regiment have an opportunity to play at the lowest level for their Sqn, and at the dizzying height of Inter-Corps.
HOCKEY
Capt EHD Peppiatt