Normal Service is Resuming

Some newcomers have dared to venture into the top echelons of the Premiership in the opening weeks of the season – Glasgow University, GHK and Hillhead in the women and Dunfermline Carnegie in the men – but the old guard are emerging back on top as the season approaches the end of the first phase.

Watsonians, Edinburgh University and Clydesdale Western are in a three-way tie on 18 points in the women`s league while Wildcats have a fairly slender lead over Grange and then Edinburgh University in the men`s.

Edinburgh University have risen to third in the men`s table after last weekend`s double header wins over Menzieshill and Watsonians… and their statistics make interesting reading. In their nine games so far, there is only one defeat, five clean sheets and a recent unbeaten run of six games, including draws against Wildcats and Grange.

Not bad for a side that has a sizeable turnover of players at the start of each season – but that goes with the University territory.

Player/coach Hamish Imrie explains: “After Covid we had 10+ new guys playing together for the first time and myself as coach coming in, it was always going to take some time to gel.

“But as the season has developed it has shown we are getting stronger as a unit each week and that has shown in the results and performances.

“To keep one clean sheet in hockey is a challenge but five is a credit to the whole squad putting the hard work in.

“We are competing in three competitions this year, Premiership, Scottish Cup and BUCS. We have achieved our goal which was reaching the top six in the league, and now we can challenge ourselves to see how far up the league we can get.”

All credit to Hamish Imrie`s positive approach with the Edinburgh students, they are well planted in the top six and it is unlikely that Kelburne on Saturday will put a dent in that progress – and there could be another clean sheet in the offing.

Dunfermline Carnegie have jumped out of the Wildcats frying pan after a 6-2 reversal last weekend into the Grange fire – their opponents this Saturday. The Fifers have certainly made a positive impact on their Premiership baptism and are still in the top six, but Grange could be another bridge too far for the newcomers.

It is unlikely that the Edinburgh side will show any mercy to Carnegie as they attempt to keep in touch with Wildcats at the top – just look at the 14 goals rattled in against Kelburne last weekend. And with Fraser Heigh and Albert Rowling in such fine striking form, the Fifers defence could again have a busy afternoon.

Grange has the chance to regain top spot with a Sunday trip to Titwood to face an up and down Clydesdale.

Wildcats sit resplendent at the top of the division, three points ahead of Grange, but the trip to Watsonians may present a tricky assignment for Vishal Marwaha`s pack.

Watsonians have made a good start to this season`s campaign, they presently lie in fifth spot after a six-match unbeaten run which only came to an end last Sunday against Edinburgh University, and that only as a result of a last minute goal from Keir Robb. But whether the Watsonians` defence can withstand the likes of Rob Harwood and Jonny Christie along with other predators in the Wildcats` ranks remains to be seen.

Inverleith`s fortunes have taken a bit of a plummet after losing their last four games, it is time for coach Chris Duncan to turn things around in Dundee against bottom side Grove Menzieshill.

Hillhead will be looking to augment their six points so far with another three at home to Dundee Wanderers – but beware the Taysiders have at last tasted victory against Inverleith. If Hillhead hope to take the points on Saturday, they will have to be more concentrated than last weekend`s defeat at the hands of Uddingston.

The final game on the card takes Clydesdale to Lanarkshire to face an Uddingston side that has taken eleven points from their last five games in an impressive unbeaten run that has taken them up to sixth in the table. While Uddingston are on a roll and Clydesdale has recently stuttered, this contest could still go either way on the day.

 

Watsonians have risen to pole position in the women`s Premiership, albeit on goal difference, but Keith Smith`s charges have a testing weekend ahead, Hillhead on Saturday and Edinburgh University the following day.

Asked how that feels, Keith Smith replied: “The same as it did last week when we were in midtable, it`s who`s top of the league at the end of the season that counts! With the fixture disruption and the new league format, there`s not really any value at looking at the table just now – I think everyone`s just trying to get to the split with as many points as they can.”

On the club`s recent success, Smith said: “Good players. We`ve added a lot of new faces in the last two years, but because of Covid we haven`t had a lot of opportunity to build that cohesion on the pitch yet, so the level of performance the team has been able to deliver each game while facing that challenge has been really pleasing. That`s all down to the quality of the squad.”

So, on this weekend`s games Smith remarked: “Because we`re still building that cohesiveness, we`ve not had time to focus on the opposition – the priority is trying to do the things we want to do that little bit better each week. And with so many games in November, it`s really just a case of getting our heads down and working hard to deliver those improvements.”

On Saturday, Edinburgh University should certainly pick up the three points on offer at Erskine Stewart`s Melville who still rest at the bottom without any points.

It is perhaps ominous that Clydesdale Western are galloping through the opposition with clinical efficiency, they share top spot with Watsonians and Edinburgh University, and have a game in hand.

This weekend could see Derek Forsyth`s charges go top on their own with six points from a double header at Gordonians and then Grove – it would indeed be the talk of the steamie if the Titwood side failed in that mission.

Although Gordonians might struggle against Clydesdale`s power play on Saturday, the Aberdonians have still made considerable progress since March 2020 when they finished bottom with no points. And last weekend`s 2-2 draw at Hillhead is symptomatic of the fighting spirit in the north-east. Eighth place and eight points from nine games is a good effort for a young side.

It`s cruel at the top, going into last weekend`s contests Hillhead were in pole position but after losing two points in a draw with Gordonians they dropped to fourth, so a good performance against Watsonians is required to steady the ship.

In addition, there is pressure from below with GHK only two points adrift of Hillhead and likely to pick up a win at home against Dundee Wanderers. It has been a lean spell recently for GHK with consecutive defeats against Hillhead, Clydesdale and Wildcats, so this is the opportunity to reverse the trend. And they are still in fifth spot – far better than previous seasons.

Wildcats are also on the prowl for a top six place, they are currently sixth but with a couple of games in hand. They have won their last three outings fairly comfortably, with Olivia Finch featuring well in the goal scoring stakes, and so to Uddingston on Thursday evening and Glasgow University on Saturday to continue that positive form.

It`s been a bit hard going for Uddingston in recent weeks, one point and one goal in the last four games, so Saturday`s trip to Grove might reverse that trend. But that may not be so easy as the Dundonians are only a point behind and secured their first points on the pitch with a 2-0 win over Wanderers two weeks ago. So, this could be a close encounter.

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