CLYDESDALE WESTERN RETAIN DIVISION ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

Clydesdale Western retained their division one crown in perfect fashion, they were the only side to finish the campaign with an 100% record after seeing off Edinburgh University, rivals for the title Watsonians, and finally Grove Menzieshill in a gruelling three-game session.

Wildcats opened today`s proceedings with a hard fought 5-2 victory over Grove, the result pushed them up to fourth in the table. Olivia Finch opened for the Auchenhowie side in only 2 minutes but that was quickly cancelled out by Grove`s Kerryn Berndsen. But a double from Corrie Hay put the Wildcats 3-1 ahead at the interval.

A comeback looked a possibility when Mel Mitchell reduced the deficit to 3-2 in the third quarter but Finch again and Zara Kennedy confirmed the three points were going to Wildcats during the final quarter.

Hillhead were officially relegated after going down 3-1 to Inverleith, the side immediately above them in the table. The game looked to be heading for a goalless outcome until the final quarter which produced the decisive strikes.

Two minutes Wendy Andrew seemed to give the Glasgow side a lifeline but two strikes inside a minute from Jenn Tait and Katie Swanson gave the initiative to Inverleith. Stella Hunger confirmed Inverleith`s victory and safety with a last minute third goal.

Edinburgh Hockey Club CALA will replace Hillhead in the top flight next season.

Honours even for the title aspirants after the first round of games, Clydesdale Western survived a banana skin fixture against third placed Edinburgh University with a narrow 2-1 win while Watsonians saw off Dundee Wanderers 8-2. However, the Edinburgh side have advanced their goal difference to 15 which could be crucial at the end of the day.

Clydesdale`s victory was based on two open play strikes from Bronwyn Shields and Millie Steiger in the first quarter, although by the interval the students had pulled one back with a penalty corner conversion from Katie Robertson. And there was no further scoring leaving Clydesdale with a narrow victory.

Watsonians was a tight contest in the first half, after a goalless first quarter Ellie Stott put the Edinburgh side one up only for a penalty corner from Sam Sangster to level. An overtime penalty corner conversion from Sarah McKay put Watsonians 2-1 ahead at the interval.

It was only 3-1 by the end of the third quarter with McKay again finding the net. Then the floodgates opened in the final quarter with five goals in only six minutes, Sarah Jamieson scored twice, McKay again for her hat-trick and singles from Katie Stott and Katherine Holdgate.

Hillhead got their first point of the campaign with a 2-2 draw with Grove…but too little too late for their survival.

Grove were a goal up at the interval through Flo Mitchell, and then doubled their tally through Emma Tennant in the third quarter. But Hillhead were not to be denied, Carla MacNiven pulled one back at a penalty corner, and with three minutes left Olivia Robertson levelled for a share of the spoils.

Wildcats clawed their way up to third in the table with a narrow 4-3 win over Inverleith. The foundation of the victory came in the first quarter with two rapid penalty corner strikes from Aspen Cumming and Corrie Hay. Zara Kennedy added a third for Wildcats in the second quarter before Carly Bissett pulled one back for Inverleith.

 Inverleith`s Stella Hunger pulled the score back to 3-2, but within two minutes Kate Holmes scored Wildcats` fourth. With five minutes left Bissett made it 4-3 at a penalty corner but Inverleith were unable to add another for an equaliser.

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Now the big one – Clydesdale Western v Watsonians for the championship. Both sides have a perfect record so far.

Bronwyn Shields opened the scoring for Clydesdale with a penalty corner but inside a minute Sarah Jamieson had levelled for Watsonians, and that was the score at half-time. Midway through the second half Frances Lonergan scored the winner from open play and although the Watsonians` coach replaced his keeper with an additional outfield player to try to snatch an equaliser, the gamble failed and Clydesdale took the points.

Now all Clydesdale have to do is take at least one point from their final game against Grove to confirm their championship.

And that they did with some comfort  Anna Hoolahan in the first quarter and Kayleigh Justice in the second dispelled any lingering hopes of an upset   

A minute into the second half Frances Lonergan added a third leaving Justice to finish the scoring for the championship  

Edinburgh University confirmed their third place in the final table by winning the odd goal in seven against Dundee Wanderers.

Wanderers looked as if they were to upset Edinburgh’s aim of third spot with a 3-2 lead at the interval, Vikki Bunce opened their account with Sam Sangster adding another two from penalty corners.  Sophie Hinds and Kathryn Meenan replied for the students. 

But the second half belonged to the students, two open play strikes from Millie Skidmore secured the required three points

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