Premiership double header weekend with lots to play for

The spell is broken! Watsonians have lost their perfect record in the women`s Premiership – and Western Wildcats are the culprit earning a 1-1 draw.

Watsonians are still in pole position, albeit now only new three points ahead of rivals Edinburgh University. The champions’ coach Keith Smith said the Cats disrupted their normal play, but will this weekend`s opponents Clydesdale Western and Glasgow University be able to repeat the feat?

Earlier results saw Clydesdale Western lose 3-0 earlier this month while the Glasgow students went down 6-1.

Meanwhile the Edinburgh students take on their Glasgow counterparts and GHK, and coach Sam Judge will certainly aim for six points from their two games. A word of caution – a few weeks ago Edinburgh could only draw 1-1 with the improving Glasgow outfit in the Scottish Cup.

So what about the Cats after last weekend`s moment in the sun? They have two home games against GHK and Clydesdale and will be oozing with confidence still.

Head coach Kaz Cuthbert assessed the Watsonians result. “The 1-1 draw was a step up in terms of results for us and gives us a platform to build on going into the double header weekend.”

And so on to this weekend. Kaz remarked: “GHK and Clydesdale are very competitive teams so we will not be taking anything for granted. We have the ability to shut them out and if we can capitalise on our chances I would expect to take points away from this weekend.”

While the Wildcats are in third spot, only on goal difference from GHK, they are six and nine points behind Edinburgh University and Watsonians respectively.

So as the season approaches the business end, what are the Cats` aspirations? Kaz again: “Our target remains the same, to break into a top two finish and secure our play-off spot.”

GHK are on the same 25 points as the Cats but are in fourth place on goal difference and the two sides meet on Saturday at Auchenhowie. They met earlier this month and a last minute penalty corner strike by Kate Holmes gave the Cats the points – so the result was close. On Sunday GHK entertain Edinburgh University – that was not so close as they went down 8-0.

But then again GHK have had a good, solid season under the coaching aegis of Fiona Semple and are quite capable of causing problems for the top sides.

So what about Clydesdale Western? They have lost three of their last four fixtures and have slipped to fifth in the table, at the moment outside a semi-final slot. And in that time the Titwood-based side only scored two goals. It may be that this weekend against Watsonians and Wildcats will be difficult to kick-start their season.

Dundee Wanderers Premiership status is under challenge, with only a single point they are becoming somewhat detached at the bottom. This weekend they play Grange and Hillhead, both at the top of the lower six table – so will need to dig deep for points here.

But what of the relegation play-off spot? It looks to be between Inverleith, Gordonians and Uddingston who are separated by only three points. Uddingston have will aim to lift themselves from the danger, they have two home games against Gordonians and Inverleith this weekend – their lifeline for safety.

The men`s title race is looking like a two horse race as Edinburgh University lost 4-1 to Grange. Exactly the same score Western beat Clydesdale – so no change at the top. Grange still lead the champions by that single point.

Any change to that situation due this double header weekend?

Grange are away to Clydesdale on Saturday and at home to Inverleith the day after – given their present form aiming for six points is likely to be on their agenda.

The same perhaps goes for Western away to Inverleith and Watsonians – but you never know!

That being the case, the more interesting scenario centres round the race for the other semi-final places. With four games left the Edinburgh students are on 24 points with Clydesdale and Watsonians on 23 – it could hardly be closer.

Perhaps the onus is on Edinburgh University to get clear of the other two as they play both this weekend at Peffermill, so their destiny is in the students` own hands. But there are pitfalls along the way, in the first phase of the competition the students drew 3-3 with Clydesdale, only equalising in the closing minutes, and then 2-2 with Watsonians with set piece expert Dan Coultas on scoring form for the latter.

It is no easier for the semi-final challengers in their other games with Clydesdale taking on Grange and Watsonians playing Western.

That leaves Inverleith – perhaps a mountain to climb here. They are four point adrift and have Western and Grange this weekend. A big challenge.

The relegation issue has clarified a little. Monarchs’ failure to take something from last weekend`s tussle with ESM has put the Taysiders in deep trouble, four points adrift with only four games left. Two of these games are this weekend against Uddingston and Hillhead – they need points here to give themselves a chance for safety.

Dunfermline Carnegie have now slipped into the relegation play-off spot – they have not won since the opening game of the season…and only a couple of draws after that. This weekend they face Hillhead at home and Kelburne away – and will target some points collection. Hillhead will be a tough nut to crack while the Paisley outfit are also on the prowl for safety points, last time out the contest ended in a 3-3 draw.

At the other end of the lower six league Hillhead and Uddingston are contesting seventh spot, at the moment the former hold a two point advantage.

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