Scramble for Top Six places heats up

The jostling for a place in the top six is on the agenda for most of the men and women Premiership clubs – but the present disparity between the number of games played makes it difficult to see a clear picture.

Further, there is a bit of a log jam at the top of both divisions. Four clubs are separated by only a single point at the top of the women`s league while in the men`s, three teams share 16 points in pole position – you can`t say the Premiership is not competitive!

After eight weeks of action in the women`s Premiership, Hillhead are not only still in the top six but are sitting top of the pile – not a bad effort for a team that normally frequented the lower echelons.

Hillhead`s Jenny Sinclair reflected on the renaissance at the club. “We`ve worked so hard this year to push top six, so it`s very rewarding to now be at the top of the league, but we`re well aware other teams have games in hand.

“We still have a tough run of games in this half of the season, but we`ll continue to work hard at training and hopefully keep the momentum going.”

Of the eight games so far, Hillhead have won five and drawn one, so their form has been fairly consistent – and they have won their last four games. Given that, it would be a surprise if Hillhead did not retain their pole position for at least another week with a home win over Gordonians at Upper Windyedge.

But the vultures are gathering…and they have games in hand.

Clydesdale Western have won all their games so far and are only one point adrift of Hillhead with three games in hand… and are likely to extend their winning sequence to six at home to Glasgow University.

Edinburgh University are also lurking ominously after their eight-goal victory over Uddingston last time out and are also only a point behind. The students` latest winning run is unlikely to be troubled by visitors Grove.

Grove got their first win on the pitch last Saturday against Tayside rivals Dundee Wanderers and coach Niall Joss remarked that “they had played much better and were more in control, but it was still a learning experience for his young squad.” Joss then admitted that Edinburgh University on Saturday might be more than a handful for his youngsters.

Watsonians are another side on the way up. After losing their opening match to Clydesdale, the Edinburgh outfit rattled in 37 goals in their next four fixtures – certainly good shooting. The main protagonists here are Sarah Jamieson, Emily Dark, and a host of others. Keith Smith`s lethal brigade is at home to Uddingston and another comfortable victory is expected.

Watsonians have a double header this weekend, on Sunday they travel to Glasgow University who are in danger of dropping out of the top six with another reversal.

Wildcats are still not in the top six, so three points against a GHK side that slipped from top to fourth after losing 2-0 to Clydesdale is essential.

But GHK coach Susan McGilveray reflected on last weekend`s reversal. “It was 0-0 until the final quarter. One penalty corner conversion and one field goal in quick succession. Clydesdale spilled players forward and GHK spent most of the game in our own half but produced a stellar defensive performance against several Scotland internationalists.” Perhaps a similar gritty performance might have a better outcome and blunt the Wildcats` claws.

Finally, Erskine Stewart`s Melville`s trip to Dundee Wanderers has a relegation look about it, even at this early stage of the season. Both sides are beginning to become detached at the bottom of the table and three points on Saturday would allow the winner to make up some ground on tenth-placed Grove.

Grange have had a frustrating last few days, losing 5-2 to Wildcats last Sunday and being held to a 0-0 draw by Edinburgh University in midweek – the loss of five points in two games is not normal practice for the Edinburgh side. The result is that they share 16 points at the top of the table with Dunfermline Carnegie and Wildcats but lose out to the latter by the slender margin of a single goal, but have now played a game more.

On Saturday Grange are a home to ninth placed Kelburne, and it may be that Fraser Heigh and his fellow strikers take their frustration out on the Paisley outfit.

Dunfermline Carnegie have done remarkably well in their first outing in the Premiership. They have been nothing short of a revelation. But now comes crunch time for the Fifers as their next three games start on Saturday against Wildcats in their den at Auchenhowie, to be followed by Grange and Edinburgh University – points here could be at a premium.

If the Fifers` defence can contain the free-scoring Wildcats` attack which has rattled in 39 goals in only six matches, then they may have a chance. But then again, no other side has managed that, as yet. Even Grange last Sunday let in five, including a hat-trick from Andy McConnell.

On Sunday the Wildcats goal machine will move on to Inverleith in a bid to make pole position in the Premiership their own with another three points.

Inverleith has dropped back out of the top six after back-to-back defeats at the hands of Grange and Edinburgh University, but their trip to Tayside on Saturday to face Dundee Wanderers should reverse that negative trend.

After the disappointment of the midweek draw with Kelburne, the still unbeaten Watsonians have a double header weekend to push their claim for a secure top six spot in the table.

On Saturday the Edinburgh side visit Titwood to take on Clydesdale…and what can they expect. Well, almost anything as the Clydesdale season has hardly galloped on – it is more of one step forward and then one back – but then again, they are still in fifth spot, a point ahead of their visitors. But Clydesdale have won four of their seven fixtures to date, so will be a challenge on their own turf for Dan Coultas` charges.

It gets no easier on Sunday when Watsonians will host an Edinburgh University side that are now finding their feet with an unbeaten run of four games, and that includes draws with both Wildcats and Grange. And last weekend they beat Inverleith 5-0 with Scotland players Hamish Imrie and Robbie Croll both scoring twice.

This could be a challenging weekend for the improving Watsonians outfit.

Edinburgh University`s Saturday fixture is at home to Grove Menzieshill and that should be three points safely in the bag for the side in fourth place in the league.

On Friday evening, Hillhead will entertain Uddingston at Old Anniesland, and although both sides are in the lower section of the league, the match is very important to both of them. The Lanarkshire side are three points in front, at the moment, and an away win would push them closer to a top six position. It has been a challenging season for Hillhead`s Director of Hockey, Keith Joss, with the loss of so many players, and another three points would lift them further from the danger zone at the bottom. So, it`s all to play for at Old Anniesland.

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