Premiership reaches a conclusion with the women`s second European spot still up for grabs

Going into the final weekend of scheduled Premiership matches most of the main issues have been settled.

In the men`s competition Western Wildcats have the title sewn up and runners-up Grange will take the other European spot, while at the other end Grove Menzieshill are automatically relegated and Tayside rivals Dundee Wanderers will have a relegation play-off to come.

Watsonians are the women`s champions for the first time in the club`s history, but the other European spot is still being debated between Clydesdale Western and Edinburgh University, it all depends now on the outcome of Clydesdale`s match against GHK. However, relegation is sorted out with Erskine Stewarts Melville going down and Grove Menzieshill in the play-off spot.

The only game in the top six still down for Saturday is GHK at home to Clydesdale Western in the women’s Premiership, but the latter have three players in the Scotland squad for this weekend`s matches against Ireland – so it may be postponed.

Western Wildcats finally finished their campaign in fourth place on goal difference from Hillhead – that was confirmed in midweek when the sides drew 2-2. Lucy Sillars after some good build-up play and Kate Holmes with a direct strike at a penalty corner were the `Cats strikers. Hillhead twice levelled during the game, the first Emma Blackstock took the ball past the keeper and slotted the ball into the net, then Ava Wadsworth`s strike at a penalty corner was brilliantly deflected into the goal by Carla MacNiven.

Hillhead`s Jenny Sinclair said: “It was a great game to finish the season with our highest finish in the club`s history. We`re incredibly proud of all the work the team and our coach has put in after such a challenging couple of years.”

Uddingston`s recent good run of form has confirmed them as top of the lower six competition, especially after their odd goal in nine victory over Glasgow University last weekend. Uddingston were due to play Gordonians who have managed to stay clear of relegation in recent weeks however due to exams and players availability Gordonians will not be making the journey to Uddingston.

In the other games already relegated Erskine Stewarts Melville, who picked up their first point last weekend, entertain a Grove Menzieshill side that have still to endure the play-off to stay in the top flight. And Dundee Wanderers entertain Glasgow University on Tayside, a side just above them in the table.

There is a full card in the men`s Premiership with champions Western Wildcats finishing their programme away to Dunfermline Carnegie. Western will look to finish the campaign unbeaten over the entire 21 matches – that, in itself, is an achievement for coach Vishal Marwaha and his pack. Dunfermline reached good heights by finishing in the top six grouping, but since then have struggled to maintain the momentum. They’ll be looking to finish up on a high.

Fourth placed Clydesdale finish their campaign at home to Watsonians who sit only two points adrift. Last time out the Titwood-based outfit were comfortable 3-0 winners with Jack McKenzie getting a brace and Gregor Hirst the other.

Grange are well safe in second spot, they lead Edinburgh University by twelve points, so Saturday`s head to head is for pride. The students were in good form midweek with a 4-0 win over Clydesdale at Peffermill, Iain McFadden scored twice from the spot with Tom Cahalin and captain Robbie Croll also on target.

The top of the lower six in the Premiership, or seventh in the entire league, is still up for grabs with Inverleith two points ahead of both Uddingston and Hillhead. The Edinburgh side will hope to confirm their status at home to bottom side Grove Menzieshill.

Whatever that result, Uddingston will host a Hillhead side that may have one eye on the forthcoming Scottish Cup final. Both sides have been in good form since the restart, but in particular Hillhead who have recorded six wins, two draws and a single defeat in their nine games to date. And the Glasgow side won the recent head-to-head 6-3 with Fraser Ward getting a hat-trick. So a good contest in prospect.

In the final game Dundee Wanderers take on Kelburne with little at stake as the young Paisley side have already emerged out of relegation contention.

 

 

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