Mixed fortunes for Western Wildcats men in Europe and big results in the Premiership

EUROHOCKEY INDOOR CLUB TROPHY

GAME 2: WESTERN WILDCATS  3-2  COPENHAGEN (DENMARK) 

A win was required and a win was delivered in Wildcats’ second game of the day against Danish champions Copenhagen.  Wildcats clawed their way to a 3-2 victory. 

Once again Wildcats made a promising early start with a strike from defender Hamish Galt in the first quarter. 

Although Jesper Johasson levelled In the second quarter, within seconds captain Rob Harwood restored Wildcats lead, and that is how it stood at the interval. 

Early in the second half Callum Duke gave his side a two goal cushion and that looked to be the final result until Tobias Grand scored in the final minute at a penalty corner – but fortunately too little too late. 

However, Wildcats will probably need to beat host side Plzen-Litice tomorrow to ensure progress to the promotion pool. 

 

GAME 3: WESTERN WILDCATS  3-5  PLZEN-LITICE (CZECH REPUBLIC)

Western Wildcats men’s task ahead was clear – in accordance with the points format for EuroHockey club events they had to beat Plzen-Litice by at least three clear goals to qualify for the promotion pool.

And that didn`t happen – they went down 5-3 – and consequently Western Wildcats are consigned to the relegation pool.

The match started badly for Wildcats when Ondrej Sochor opened the scoring in only two minutes. But the Scots were soon level with a penalty corner conversion by Fraser Moran.

But two goals inside a minute in the second quarter from Eduard Gerlicky and Adam Uhir knocked the stuffing out of the Wildcats, and that is how it stood at the break.

A slight glimmer of hope when Andrew McConnell sunk a penalty corner opportunity early in the second half but that was quickly cancelled out by a similar type goal from Jakub Korytak for 4-2.

Wildcats were now left with the task of scoring five goals in the final ten minutes to reach the promotion pool – a tall order against the host club.  Made even worse when Simon Levy made it 5-2 with five minutes remaining.  Andrew McConnell did score Wildcats third a minute later.   Wildcats had three penalty corner chances in the final quarter and substituted their keeper for an additional outfield in the final minutes… but no reward.

Wildcats now enter the relegation group, they play Ireland`s Three Rock Rovers this evening and then Roslagens IF from Sweden on Sunday.   However, they do carry forward the points from their 3-2 win over Copenhagen from the original pool.

GAME 4:  WESTERN WILDCATS  9-2  THREE ROCK ROVERS (IRELAND)

Despite the disappointment of the morning result, Western Wildcats men came roaring back to give Irish champions Three Rock Rovers a 9-2 mauling in their second game.

The first half was tight – it ended 2-2. Harry MacMahon and Ross Canning put the Irish ahead twice but back came Wildcats through Fraser Moran and Andrew McConnell to finish the half 2-2 – and all to play for.

The second half was one-way-traffic, in the third quarter Joe McConnell, Andrew McConnell, Rob Harwood and Andrew McAllister advanced the Wildcats score to 6-2.   An Irish comeback was perhaps expected but never happened and the Scots fired in further goals, a double from McConnell to take his match total to four, and then Callum Duke took the Wildcats total to nine and a convincing mauling.

Back at home, Grange women continued their successful season with a 2-1 home win over second placed Western Wildcats, Hanna McKie and Heather Croill were on target, Kaz Cuthbert scored for Wildcats. The win pushes Grange into fourth place above Edinburgh University although the students have a couple of games in hand.

GHK consolidated their top six credentials with a comfortable 4-0 win over neighbours Hillhead. Lucy Williamson latched on to a pass from Emma Tennant to give GHK a slim half-time lead.  In the second half it was Fiona Semple who provided the pass for Joanne Boyle to double the GHK tally. Two further goals came along for GHK, Williamson converted a penalty corner option and finally Semple managed to get herself on the scoresheet.

Glasgow University emerge out of the relegation zone to ninth in the table with a 5-1 win over Gordonians.  Georgia Smith was top scorer with a double and the other goals came from Emily Simmers, Ciara Forgie and Alice Geoghegan.

Well it`s been all go in the men`s Premiership!

Firstly, Grange have lost their perfect record when they visited Hillhead and had to be content with a 1-1 draw. The result does not alter Grange`s top of the league status, but it does ensure that Hillhead have a place in the top six. And that is important to coach Yan Adams.

Hillhead served their intention in the opening three minutes when Matt Carder put them in front.   Grange`s Aiden McQuade then has his spot effort well saved by the Hillhead keeper and that is how it stood at the break. Aussie Dylan Bean equalised for Grange in the second half and match ended with a share of the points. Grange certainly had most of the pressure and chances during the game but Hillhead defended with skill and tenacity – that in itself is a skill of the game.

Watsonians also secured their top six status with a 4-0 win over Inverleith who dropped down to seventh.

Also Clydesdale missed out on a top six spot after going down 3-2 at Dundee Wanderers, and it took a goal in the last few minutes by Kennedy Gibb to secure the Tayside victory.  Clydesdale were two up at the interval and things appeared to be going their way, but a second half double by Oscar Brown brought the match level.   But Clydesdale needed the win and replaced their keeper with an additional outfield player but the gamble failed to produce any dividend.

Uddingston took full advantage and with a 1-0 win over ESM moved from eighth to sixth.   It was Jedd Campbell who provided the crucial strike.

At the top Edinburgh University moved to within four points of leaders Grange following a 7-2 win over bottom side Kelburne. Keir Robb scored a hat-trick, Alex Wilson got two and Declan Bradley and Calum Munro scored the others. Miles Goldie and Tommy Austin scored Kelburne`s goals.

 

 

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