Scottish Inter-Club Challenge Cup Finals 2021

Scotland’s premier inter-club competition reaches its conclusion on Saturday as the much-anticipated Scottish Cup finals returns to the home of the reigning champions, Newlands Tennis Club.

First competed in 1896, the Scottish Cup quickly established itself as the pinnacle of the summer event calendar and has continued to attract teams from each corner of the nation, with 60 clubs entering the men’s and women’s competitions in 2021.

Due to the tournament’s postponement last year, hosts Newlands had the added pleasure of holding onto the coveted Men’s and Women’s trophies in 2020, while waiting to defend the titles in their own back yard. Making the trip to Glasgow’s Southside on Saturday are Edinburgh-based challengers Thistle Men and Blackhall Women who aim to take the honours back to the capital.

Newlands Men enter the showpiece event on perfect form. Backed by a number of the University of Stirling’s scholarship players, the side are yet to concede a single rubber in this year’s competition. Their opposition, Thistle Men, also have a very impressive record, dropping only one rubber themselves on their route to the final.

Blackhall plan to take revenge on Newlands 

We’re set for a repeat of the 2019 final in the women’s event as Blackhall plan to take revenge on Newlands who claimed the title following a narrow 5-4 win at Craiglockhart two years ago. The holders take momentum into the decisive fixture having been projected in confidence by a 7-2 win against a strong Whitecraigs team in the First Round, failing to surrender a rubber ever since.

Newlands Tennis Club is welcoming supporters this weekend to cheer on the teams and create the infamous Scottish Cup atmosphere. Spectators will be offered numerous viewing areas to watch the drama unfold, with the club’s bar serving food and drink throughout the day. There will also be an opportunity to get involved in the action by participating in a ‘guess the number of balls in the car’ challenge, thanks to a partnership between Newlands, Tennis Scotland and McLaren, which will raise vital funds in aid of Alzheimer Scotland.

Blane Dodds 

Tennis Scotland Chief Executive, Blane Dodds, commented: “Scottish Cup finals day is one of the standouts in our event calendar and has become a real symbol of our club competition scene here in Scotland. We do have plans to continue to enhance the event, and as it’s always a very proud moment for the finalists and organisers to be involved in competing and running a tournament of this calibre, I would encourage everyone to show their support and appreciation for the top clubs in Scotland on Saturday.

“I would like to wish each of the clubs the best of luck and hope everyone enjoys the day. “

Team Lineups

Newlands Men: Scott MacAulay, James Shemilt, James MacKinley, Scott Duncan, Harry Mouratidas, Robert Dalgetty

Thistle Men: Colin Fleming, Neil McPhee, Euan Bell, Fraser Swan, Shamael Chaudry, Tim Weir

Newlands Women: Caitlin Steel, Anna Brogan, Jennifer Steel, Heather Barlow, Heather Lockhart, Eilidh McLaughlin

Blackhall Women: Emma Devine, Millie Stretton, Sonia Vickers, Eilidh Smith, Danielle Crooks, Katie Miles