Scotland vs. Malaysia (Ladies) 2026 Summer Test Series
Written by; Tao MacLeod
Results & Match Information
Venue; Peffermill Playing Fields, Edinburgh Scotland
Saturday 18.07.2026
Scotland 6 – 2 Malaysia (Ladies)
Goalscorers
Scotland
Charlotte Watson 10th minute (Penalty Stroke)
Fiona Burnet 14th minute (Field Goal)
Ellie MacKenzie 23rd minute (Field Goal)
Zara Kennedy 24th minute (Field Goal)
Ellie MacKenzie 28th minute (Field Goal)
Amy Costello 58th minute (Penalty Corner)
Malaysia
Nuramirah Zulkifli 40th minute (Field Goal)
Khairunnisa Mohd 60th minute (Field Goal)
Sunday 19.07.2026
Scotland 6 – 0 Malaysia (Ladies)
Goalscorers
Scotland
Amy Costello 13th minute (Penalty Corner)
Amy Costello 29th minute (Penalty Corner)
Ava Wadsworth 45th minute (Penalty Corner)
Mhairi Low 48th minute (Penalty Corner)
Heather McEwan 53rd minute (Field Goal)
Katie Birch 56th minute (Penalty Corner)
Weekend Test Match Report
This was a test series that put together a bit of a mis-match. 12 goals for the home side, across two games which saw only two scored in return for the tourists. The difference between the two teams was not only in technical ability, but also playing style and physical prowess. Scotland liked to use the width when in possession, with head coach Chris Duncan encouraging a patient build-up passing patterns. They also enjoyed a high press defensively. On the second day, the outfielders stayed high when attacking. At various times in the first half on Sunday I counted 10 Scottish players in top half, nine players in the top quarter, as they looked to pile on the pressure on a team that are seven places below in the FIH World Rankings. Amy Costello bossed things at the back, with Sarah Robertson dynamic down the wings and Ellie MacKenzie looking full of beans.
In contrast Malaysia often dropped back, often due to not being able to keep ahold of the ball. Occasionally, they pressed high, but at other times opposition deep-lying playmaker Amy Costello was allowed to dictate play within her own half. Fundamentally, the Asians allowed themselves to be bullied by the Scots. They were out muscled and out manoeuvred when out of possession. They had a basic attacking plan of looking to score on the counter, going as directly to the goal as they can, using the pace of their forwards to get behind the defence. Unfortunately for them poor technique and a shortage of alternative ideas led to a lack of success. They only got two goals in this respect in the fourth quarter of the Saturday game, through Nuramirah Zulkifli and Khairunnisa Mohd. Their number 11 Nur Azhar also worked hard in the forward line. Captain Noor Hasliza Ali tried to create passing moves in her role as a sweeper, but didn’t have many options ahead of her.
These were the first two matches for both the men’s and women’s Scottish National Teams in a summer series of test games. For the ladies this is preparation for the upcoming FIH World Cup.
Scotland Hockey Home Internationals 2026
Scotland v South Africa (Women)
· Sunday 2nd August – 15:00 – Peffermill Playing Fields
· Monday 3rd August – 19:30 – Peffermill Playing Fields
Scotland v Chile (Men)
· Saturday 1 August – 19:30 – Peffermill Playing Fields
· Sunday 2 August – 12:30 – Peffermill Playing Fields
· Tuesday 4 August – 19:30 – Peffermill Playing Fields
