Double header weekend coming up in the Premiership

What an omen Watsonians and Western Wildcats sent out to their chasing packs on the opening day of this season`s Premiership – eleven and seven goals respectively against Uddingston`s women and men. It would appear that both sides will not be giving up their titles easily – but there`s a long road yet to travel.

On Saturday Watsonians are at home to a Grange side that have yet to dip their toes into the Premiership waters, presenting a massive challenge for the top flight newcomers.

The following day the champions travel to Wildcats` den at Auchenhowie in what will be a testing encounter. Western Wildcats have started the season with a comfortable 5-1 win over Dundee Wanderers and coach Kaz Cuthbert will be looking for another three points against Inverleith on Saturday. But how the Wildcats are able to cope with the firepower of Watsonians may well provide a clearer indication of their potential this season.

While Watsonians are at the top, the last couple of seasons have witnessed some ambitious clubs striving to make their way up the pole – and Glasgow side GHK are in that bracket.

We caught up with GHK captain Carly Bisset who evaluated the situation.

“Finishing sixth last season was bittersweet for us. We knew we had the potential to finish higher and stumbled a bit in the second half of the season – but equally it was the highest ever finish for GHK in the Premiership. This year we have our sights set on a top four finish, but we have to be consistent throughout the season, which is definitely achievable.”

The last few seasons under the coaching aegis of Susan McGilveray has initiated the GHK revival, now Fiona Semple has taken over the mantle.

And it started off with a 3-0 away to Gordonians last weekend. On that Carly said:

“We are happy with how our first game went, but in aiming for top four, we know we need to be more ruthless both in attack and defence. We are targeting a six-point weekend, but expect it to be physically tough, against opposition we haven’t seen much of yet this season. It’s good to see Grange back in the Premiership so am particularly looking forward to playing against them on Sunday.”

Certainly, if GHK are to make an impact in the top ranks of the division six points from their double header against Uddingston and then Grange is a huge target.

On this season`s squad Carly explained:

“I think we have a really exciting squad this year despite the loss of some great youngsters last season who have left for university. We have some great youth development within the club and first eleven, including BRAVE pathway players and U21 Scottish representation, and have also recruited new players who have really added to the depth and experience of our squad. While there are a few new faces, everyone has gelled so well during pre-season and I think we’re going to be a real threat within the Premiership this year.”

The newcomers to the GHK ranks included Connie Lathe (Uddingston); Emma Tennant (Dundee Uni); Ellie Hutcheson (Edinburgh Uni); Jess Halley (Quinnipiac Uni – USA); Fiona Semple (Clydesdale Western); Maris Cawthorne (Aberdeen Uni) and Joanne Boyle (Grove Menzieshill).

It looks as if last season`s title challengers will need to keep on winning to maintain the pressure on Watsonians. That means that Clydesdale Western will need to take full points from this weekend`s encounters with Glasgow University and Dundee Wanderers the following day.

Edinburgh University, coached by Sam Judge, begin their challenge with a home game against Gordonians and then away to Uddingston – six points here will be important for the students.

Hillhead are also another club on the rise, finishing in last season`s top six, they narrowly lost by a single goal to Clydesdale Western last weekend, but will look to pick up their first three points away to Dundee Wanderers on Saturday – they have no game on Sunday.

The only game so far not mentioned or alluded to is in Aberdeen on Sunday between a Gordonians side that lost their opening fixture and a new-look Glasgow University outfit now coached by former Western and Uddingston player Steven Percy. This could be a tasty encounter in the Granite City.

It is early days but one thing is clear that Western Wildcats are not about to give up the men’s title without a struggle if last weekend’s 7-1 defeat of Uddingston is anything to go by. And this weekend they play newly promoted ESM before a game at home to a Hillhead side bedding in under Yan Adams.

So let’s have a glance at the other sides that started off the campaign with a win.

Grange also made an impressive start by dominating their contest with Watsonians, and 5-0 might have been more if their penalty corner routine had been in working order. Away to Inverleith and then entertaining Hillhead will provide hurdles that Grange will need to overcome to stay up with the champions

Edinburgh University, who finished a creditable third last season opened with a 3-0 win over Inverleith, but now have a challenging weekend ahead against Kelburne and Clydesdale.

Head coach Hamish Imrie surmised: “We’re looking forward to it especially after Clydesdale, Kelburne and ourselves all had opening day victories, it should be a good tough weekend.”

However, the last time the Edinburgh students visited Titwood Imrie will remember that they left on the wrong end of a 6-2 defeat, and Clydesdale are on the back of an excellent opening day victory against Hillhead.

Hamish has made some telling signings in the close season which is also developing into a family set-up. “Alex Wilson from Flotbek Germany; Jamie Croll from Grange; Tom Fox from Surbiton; We also have three sets of brothers in the squad, Iain and Cameron McFadden; Jamie and Robbie Croll; Tom and Jack Cahalin.”

Hamish has also indicated that he wants to push the students to further success. He explained: “We`re always wanting to do better, hopefully we can close the gap on the top two, and push towards for a European spot. Grange and Western have added some real quality to their squads, but so have we, and we`re looking forward to the challenge.”

However, to make the challenge more of a reality Imrie`s charges will hope to take six points from this weekend`s fixtures.

Dunfermline Carnegie also started with a convincing win and travel to Hillhead for their only game of the weekend. This could be an intriguing contest with Hillhead wanting to get their first victory under Yan Adams and Carnegie looking for their second three points so early in the season.

So what about the Premiership debutants? Monarchs have Clydesdale in Dundee on Saturday while ESM face the champions on the same day before going away to Watsonians.

There are a couple of other games on the card, on Saturday Uddingston entertain Watsonians – both sides were outplayed last weekend and will be keen to get this season’s campaign back on a positive note. Especially Watsonians as captain Tom Swarbrick has aspirations of a top four spot. The Edinburgh side could then consolidate their progression if they gain a further three points against ESM on Sunday.

Also on Sunday Kelburne are at home to Inverleith and a victory here would give an indication that Gordon Shepherd’s young side are making progress.

Inverleith narrowly missed out on a top six spot last season but finished top of the lower competition in the end, and they have strengthened their side since then. Certainly they went down 3-0 to Edinburgh University on the opening day but captain Ed Iffla remarked “It was a very good game, but not enough execution on penalty corners from ourselves.” If that issue is solved, then Inverleith might just make the top six this time round.

 

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