Top teams at DISC for the final showdown

The top teams in the land will be at DISC on Saturday for the indoor Gala Day finals – Western Wildcats v Inverleith in the men`s while Watsonians take on Clydesdale Western in the women`s final.

The women`s competition saw Watsonians top the table by two points from Clydesdale, both well ahead of the chasing pack.   Western Wildcats topped the men`s race but Inverleith`s place was only courtesy of goal difference from Grove Menzieshill who made a valiant attempt to reach the final after a hat-trick of victories on the last day of the league format.

But all that can be overturned come Saturday. The championships and European places will be decided on a winner-take-all final game at DISC.

Inverleith, under the experienced eye of coach Stuart Neave, are seasoned campaigners on the indoor boards, having won the championship six times, but their last success was 2020.

However, this year their record against Wildcats is interesting, they were given a 9-0 mauling in the first encounter but last weekend the outcome was a six all draw and the Edinburgh side were seconds away from a victory. Having said that, Western were without lethal strikers Jamie Golden and Andrew McConnell who were on international duty.

Inverleith`s long-standing coach Stuart Neave gave his take on the occasion. “It`s great to be in another Gala Day final. We are expecting a tough match from a good Western side. However, the team has been training well and is looking forward to the challenge.”

And the Edinburgh side have been free-scoring in the league competition – in fact 71 goals in the ten games – much the same as Western. Captain Kyle Taylor, Charlie Jack and Keir Robb have been fairly lethal in front of goal.

Western this season has seen Golden and McConnell on form as well as top scorers in Fraser and Cameron Moran, Rob Harwood and several others who pitch in from time to time.

Clydesdale, so often the champions in the past, lost out last year to Watsonians, albeit in a shoot-out – that is how close it was.

So can Clydesdale regain their indoor crown? This is what captain Laura Paul has to say: “The games so far this season against them have been close, competitive and high scoring contests, so both teams have the chance to win. We have as full a squad as we can given we are without our national players.”

And with the absence of experienced players like Millie Steiger others stood up to provide goals; Kayleigh Justice, Lucy Williamson and Ciara Forgie as well as others. Coach Fiona Semple was also on the scoresheet.

At the moment it is one win apiece – Clydesdale won the first encounter 3-1 with Watsonians triumphing 4-3 in the return. It couldn`t get much closer.

And the Edinburgh side had to adapt without free-scoring Sarah Jamieson and it fell to the likes of Ailsa Small; Gen Hussell and Katie Crawford to provide the goals, in fact it was the latter`s hat-trick that saw off Clydesdale last weekend.

And so to more entertainment of the day – the relegation play-offs. That is a juicy contest between a team who struggled in a higher competition versus a team with a win ethic in a lower format. Perhaps not easy to estimate who is favourite in that environment.

And it is a double exposure for Uddingston – the men face FMGM Monarchs while the women take on Inverleith, both opposition were runners-up in the second tier.

Uddingston women finished bottom of the first division with only three points and their fate was finally sealed when they went down to both Grange and Dundee Wanderers. With no automatic relegation due to the withdrawal of Edinburgh University the Lanarkshire side have a second chance to rescue their top flight status.

Uddy men finished seventh in division 1, a point adrift of Grange, after drawing with Hillhead and losing to Dundee Wanderers last weekend.

Monarchs finished third in the second tier but grasped the play-off place as Grove Menzieshill`s second string are not eligible for promotion – it was Clydesdale who took the automatic promotion slot. Meanwhile Inverleith women finished second, four points behind winners GHK.

 

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