Premiership titles, European play-off places and relegation could be decided this weekend

Premiership titles, European play-off places and relegation issues could all be decided this weekend. In fact the women`s Premiership title could be resolved on Thursday evening when leaders Clydesdale Western travel to Edinburgh University for a catch-up fixture. The Titwood-based side are currently five points ahead of second placed Watsonians and another three points on Thursday would result in an unassailable eight point margin and the title.

However, a draw or defeat for Clydesdale would keep the contest alive, and on Saturday Clydesdale travel back to Edinburgh to face Watsonians in what could become a final showdown.

But however you look at it Clydesdale must fancy themselves to win the title they last won in 2014 – after all they have a perfect record after 13 games and there are no signs of the wheels coming off.

For Watsonians it`s a case of hope and winning – hope that Edinburgh University can pull off a win on Thursday and Keith Smith`s charges can beat Clydesdale on Saturday. However, even then, that might not be enough as Clydesdale could still seal the title with a win at GHK on the final day.

And there is still the issue of the coveted fourth place to be resolved between Wildcats and Edinburgh University. Last Saturday`s 1-1 draw between the sides left the status quo…that is the Cats are still a point ahead but the students have still that outstanding game against Clydesdale to come. The Cats will certainly hope to keep the pressure on with a win against bottom side Glasgow University.

Meanwhile the Edinburgh students are at home to third placed GHK with not too fond memories of the first encounter back in September – they lost 3-1 with GHK goals from Lucy Williamson, Hanna McKie, and Beth Campbell.

Fourth place is still all to play for, and when the pressure is on for results, there can be odd happenings.

The relegation issues are all but resolved – Fjordhus Reivers look like they will revert back to the second tier while Hillhead head for the play-offs. The Borderers entertain St Andrews University on Saturday while Hillhead are at Grange.

After a 1-1 draw with Grange last Saturday Inverleith have a six point advantage and a much better goal difference over Hillhead, and so their survival is all but assured.  So the pressure is largely off as they entertain Uddingston on Saturday.

And so to the men`s competition.

It’s a similar scenario in many respects as Western Wildcats seem firmly in the driving seat at the top of the table – they have a four point lead over Watsonians who are the only side capable of overtaking them. And the sides meet head to head on Saturday in Edinburgh. But even if Watsonians were to triumph, it might still not be enough as Wildcats` last game is against ESM Lions and a win here would ensure the silverware was on its way to Auchenhowie.

Last time out Wildcats clawed their way to a narrow 4-3 win with Jamie Golden`s two penalty corner strikes in the fourth quarter decisive in grasping the three points.   But it was close.

Even if the Edinburgh side are not able to overhaul the Wildcats, this has certainly been Watsonians best season in the Premiership…and now they must divert their attention to the play-offs and see if they can grab one of the spots in Europe – that would be an achievement.

Grange and Edinburgh University will make up the other sides in the play-offs, the former are at home to ESM Lions who moved up to fifth after seeing off Hillhead last weekend, while the students face Hillhead at Peffermill.   Two home wins look to be on the cards.

The relegation issue is still very much alive – Dunfermline Carnegie are certainly relegated but the focus is now on the play-off spot.

There are alarm bells sounding in Lanarkshire, three defeats in a row since the break have slipped Uddingston into eleventh spot, they are now a point behind Inverleith who have moved out of the relegation zone.   And the sides meet in Edinburgh on Saturday in a crucial encounter.

Inverleith were on the wrong end of a 7-1 defeat in the early part of the season but in recent weeks have come to life with a 3-1 win over Grove Menzieshill followed by 8-4 at Dunfermline Carnegie last weekend – a personal triumph for Charlie Jack who scored five of them. So Inverleith would appear to have the current momentum but the pressure of the occasion could still be a deciding factor.  However, an Inverleith victory would consign Uddingston to the play-offs.

Elsewhere, Grove Menzieshill will look to retain top spot in the lower six with a home win over Carnegie.

Finally, Clydesdale and Dundee Wanderers, both on 15 points and safe from relegation worries, meet at Titwood with eighth spot the prize for the winners.  Clydesdale`s recent form has been a bit up and down, in contrast Wanderers have won their last three games, so are the side in form.

 

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