No Change at the top of the Premierships

On the final scheduled day of the first stage of the Premierships, Western retained pole position in the men`s league while on the other side of Glasgow Clydesdale Western did the same in the women`s competition.

In the drive for the coveted top six spots prior to the split for the second half of the season, the women`s candidates are already decided, but not so the men. Clydesdale have galloped into sixth spot after seeing off Hillhead, but their candidature is not yet confirmed. Both Uddingston and Inverleith are on 13 points, three behind Clydesdale, but they still have a game in hand. Yet both would have to go some, not just to make up the points, but also the goal difference deficit. But that is for another day!

Western cruised to an 8-1 win over Uddingston at Auchenhowie, goals from Fraser Moran, Rob Harwood and penalty corner conversions by Jonny Christie and Nikki Homfray put them four up at the interval. Although there was a lull in the scoring in the second half for a while, finally four more goals were added by Fraser Calder, Niall Sommerville, Harwood again and Callum Duke before Finn Halliday notched a late consolation.

Grange certainly did not have it all their own way against Watsonians, they finally won 4-2 but had to come back from a 2-1 deficit. Matt Murphy opened for Grange in eight minutes but very soon after Dan Coultas levelled from a penalty corner. Coultas then repeated the occasion with another set piece strike for Watsonians to take a 2-1 lead. Grange recovered their composure and goals from Charlie Jack, Duncan Riddell and Fraser Heigh from the spot secured the three points and kept them two points adrift at the top, but with a game more played.

Edinburgh University are still in third spot, but were held to a 1-1 draw by a steadily improving Dunfermline Carnegie side. Costa Stylianou put the students in front in the first quarter, and that is how it stood in a tense affair until four minutes from the end, when Magnus Ferrier levelled with a reverse stick shot for a share of the points that keeps the Fifers in fourth place.

Clydesdale galloped into sixth place after a convincing 6-1 win at Titwood. Ali Douglas highlighted with a hat-trick while the other strikes came from Andrew Allan, Ben Cosgrove and David Nairn, Fraser Ward replied for Hillhead.

Inverleith kept their top six aspirations alive with a 7-1 win over Kelburne, there were doubles from Kyle Taylor and Livio Belotti while Tom Barton, Jack Henderson and Derek Salmond were also on target.

The Tayside derby ended in a 3-2 win for Grove Menzieshill over Wanderers. The latter`s goals came from Jack Donaldson and a penalty corner by Luke Sandison, but the cause was not helped with a spot miss by Callum Ross.

 

Clydesdale have now played ten and won ten – you can`t do better than that. The latest triumph was a 4-0 win over Hillhead. Emma McGregor, Holly Steiger, Heather Lang and Fiona Semple were the scorers.

The chasing pack continue to follow behind – second placed Watsonians made heavy weather of seeing off Grove with a final 3-0 win. It was goalless at the interval, but the Edinburgh side took the initiative in the third quarter with goals from Nikki Stobie, Katie Crawford and Bethan Mann. But the heroine of the occasion was Grove`s keeper, Raph Robeson, with a series of outstanding saves, although Watsonians` coach Keith Smith also mentioned the number of chances that went a`begging.

Edinburgh University are in third spot, albeit only two goals adrift of Watsonians with a game more played, after a 6-0 win over GHK. There were two goals each for Margery Justice from the spot and Katie Robertson, while Amy Brodie and Kathryn Meenan also scored.

Wildcats have made fourth spot their own, but struggled to overcome stout resistance from Gordonians and finally came away with a narrow 1-0 win, courtesy of a brilliant solo goal from Alex Stuart. Gordonians`s Ailsa Phimister said: “We started very strong, remaining calm and composed. As they started to build up confidence the team were able to attack more, followed by many chances in the circle, leading to a couple of penalty corners. Wildcats played extremely well and unfortunately the girls conceded in the third quarter. However, they retained their work rate until the final whistle keeping the score at 1-0.”

Uddingston finished their first appearance in the Premiership with a 2-0 win over ESM to finish in a very creditable eighth place. McKenzie Bell opened for the Lanarkshire side from the spot and the second came from open play by Connie Lathe.

However, seventh places goes to Glasgow University who won 3-0 at Dundee Wanderers. There was a double for Sally Jack and the other came from Georgia Jones.

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