Grange and Watsonians are Premiership champions

The Premiership titles were confirmed when Grange saw off Watsonians 4-1 in the men`s competition while Watsonians` women beat GHK 2-1 to take the crown – but both sides a degree of stage fright on the final day.

Grange landed their seventh Premiership title with a 4-1 win over Watsonians, they were worthy winners as they were the only side in the competition to finish their campaign undefeated.

With the start at high noon, that meant that Grange had clinched the championship even before rivals Western had stepped on the Auchenhowie pitch against Edinburgh University with an unassailable four point advantage.

Grange manager Martin Shepherdson said: “We are naturally delighted to win another championship, the foundation came last weekend with the draw with Western and today we made sure of the title with the win over Watsonians. Today was perhaps not such a good performance but it was enough for a comfortable win in the end.”

It did not look too promising for the champions-elect as a Dan Coultas penalty corner conversion gave Watsonians a single goal lead at the interval. But three goals inside five minutes sealed the occasion, Albert Rowling started the comeback, 18-year-old Zach Talbot put Grange into the lead and a David Nairn penalty corner gave his side a 3-1 cushion. Just to confirm Grange`s celebrations Jacob Tweedie added a fourth in the final quarter.

Watsonians` women completed the Edinburgh double with a 2-1 win over a plucky fifth placed GHK at Peffermill. That left Edinburgh University with the mammoth task of scoring 21 goals against Wildcats to overhaul Keith Smith`s charges. It didn`t happen!

After the match Keith said: “The girls are delighted to retain the Premiership title. It was hard work as we were defending the title and were in pole position since the opening day of the competition. Today we were nervier than usual but we got the win in the end, and that`s the important thing.”

Watsonians got the best of starts when Sarah Jamieson opened the scoring in only two minutes – and you might have expected the flood gates to open. But no – that was the score at the interval.

And to make matters worse Makenzie Brown brought the scores level in the third quarter with a rebound from the top of the circle. And suddenly the title sat on a shaky peg.

But with ten minutes to go up stepped Jamieson again to clinch the crown at a penalty corner, the routine broke down but the ball fell to the Scotland striker and the score advanced to a winning 2-1. There was a bit of a scare in the final minute when GHK were awarded a penalty corner but the danger was cleared.

However credit must go to GHK for making a real go of it and especially their keeper Alison Westwood who produced a series of crucial saves to keep the pressure on Watsonians.

Later in the day Edinburgh University did draw level on points with the champions with a 6-1 win over Wildcats, but fell short on goal difference. Jika Nyirenda continued her recent good run of scoring form with another double, as did Harriet Platt with the remaining goal coming from Georgia Jones, Alex Stuart got the Cats` consolation.

Elsewhere in the men`s Premiership, Western already knew of Grange`s triumph but nonetheless beat Edinburgh University 6-4 in a ding-dong affair. Once again Andrew McConnell was to the fore with four goals.

Costa Stylianou put the students ahead inside a minute but by the interval a double of penalty corner conversions from McConnell and another from Fraser Moran gave the home side a 3-2 lead at the interval. The students` other strike came from a set piece by Iain McFadden.

In the second half McConnell bagged another brace while Adam Mackenzie got the other and in reply Keir Robb scored twice for Edinburgh.

With Watsonians` defeat at Grange Clydesdale only needed a point to secure the remaining semi-final spot, and this they did with a 2-2 draw against Inverleith at Titwood. Ian King and Euan Lindsay scored for the home side while a penalty corner double by Charlie Jack replied for Inverleith who remain in sixth place.

In the lower echelons of the men’s Premiership FMGM Monarchs managed their first win of the campaign with a 5-4 win at Dunfermline Carnegie – not that it saved them from relegation. Phil Nolan, Callum Boag, two from Ross Glashan and the other from Paul Holmes were the Tayside scorers while a double from Andrew Doyle and strikes by Paul Weston and Archie Stephen notched the Fifers` reply.

Kelburne finished their season on a high with a 4-1 win over Uddingston with Tommy Austin getting a couple with Sam Hunt and Andrew McGrane getting the others, Finn Halliday got the consolation for the Lanarkshire side.

In the remaining game ESM continued their recent good form with a 3-3 draw at Hillhead – building up to the Cup Final no doubt. ESM went into a two goal lead through Fraser Sturrock and Rich Wright, but back came Hillhead when Tom Cole sent a cracking shot into the top right corner and Matt Carder levelled with an overhead badminton-style smash. Jimmy Lynch Small gave Hillhead a 3-2 lead but Wright scored again with five minutes left for a share of the points.

Clydesdale Western confirmed their semi-final status with a 2-1 win over Glasgow University, they pipped GHK by three points. Margery Justice put Clydesdale in front after a good lay-off by Bronwyn Shields. The home side doubled their tally through Lara Tomkins with a running tomahawk shot following a pass from Justice. The Glasgow students pulled one back when Dara Devine slid to touch the ball into the net – but that is how the match finished.

Inverleith saved themselves from the automatic drop by beating Dundee Wanderers 3-1 in Edinburgh, that place is filled by the Taysiders. Stella Hunger, Elise Miller and Rachael Campbell put Inverleith three up before Kirsty Jeffries replied for Wanderers in the final minute. Inverleith will still have the stress of taking part in the relegation play-offs.

Elsewhere, both Hillhead and Grange kept their places at the top of the lower competition, the former beat Gordonians 3-2.

Grange went to Uddingston and came away with a 2-1 win through Rebecca Gordon and Kirsten Turnbull with Lucy Hogarth getting on the score sheet for Uddingston.

Hillhead were 3-2 winners at home to Gordonians, the result keeps the Glasgow side in seventh place. Hillhead`s goals came from Mhairi Low with a deflection at a penalty corner, Emma Blackstock when she beat a defender and flicked the ball into the net, and finally another from Low in an interchange with Blackstock. The Aberdonians replies emanated from Jess Freeland and Grace Gray-Giles.

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