Western Wildcats win the men`s Premiership but the women`s is very much up for grabs

Clydesdale Western were out in front in the women`s Premiership but no longer as they went down 1-0 to rivals Watsonians in Edinburgh.

But the ball is still in Clydesdale`s hands; they remain two points ahead of Watsonians with one game remaining. The bottom line is that Watsonians must beat Wildcats to have any chance of the title and then hope that Clydesdale fail to see off GHK – so it`s all in the melting pot for the final day.

There were not many chances in the first half, which ended goalless. It was in the third quarter that Watsonians struck, a penalty corner shot from Katherine Holdgate was deflected in by Fiona Burnet. Clydesdale had their chance to level at a belated penalty corner but the ball was saved on the line by Emily Dark, and the three points remained in Edinburgh.

In the race for the coveted fourth place Wildcats have levelled on points with Edinburgh University but the students have a single goal advantage.  The Cats were 3-0 winners over Glasgow University, in the first quarter Frances Lonergan put them two up and in control.  A further goal from Lexi MacMIllan secured the three points for the Auchenhowie side.

Meanwhile the Edinburgh students were held to a 1-1 draw by GHK – perhaps not a bad result. Harri Platt scored for the students with Jess Halley on target for GHK.

In the lower six St Andrews University extended their lead at the top with a comfortable 6-1 win over Fjordhus Reivers, and their goals came from six separate scorers, that is Iona Syme, Georgie Rose, Hannah Coull, Liz Agatucci, Ellen Sloss and Ella Ritchie.

Grange have moved up to eighth in the table following a 4-1 win over Hillhead, their scorers were Emily Morris, Rachel Sheil, Izzy Alexander and Freya Philip with Lucy Langlands getting a consolation.

A draw may not be the best of outcomes but Western Wildcats 3-3 draw with Watsonians in Edinburgh was just right – Western retained their four point lead at the top of the men`s Premiership and with one game to go have won the championship.

But the omens did not look very promising when Watsonians were two goal leaders at the interval; Dan Coultas scored from the spot and Tommy Orr added another from open play. But the Cats clawed their way back into proceedings; Jamie Golden scored at a penalty corner and then Scott Menzies from open play to draw level. Western took the lead for the first time with another set piece conversion from Golden and although Orr scored again for the Edinburgh side, it finished with a share of the points and the silverware is heading for Auchenhowie.

Grange continued their recent run of form with a 7-2 win over ESM Lions and thereby consolidated their third place in the table.  Aidan McQuade opened Grange`s account in only four minutes with a screamer into the roof of the net after the initial penalty corner effort had been blocked.  Murray Constable levelled for ESM but minutes later Robbie Croll had restored Grange`s lead.    Grange proceeded to extend their advantage in the second quarter through Matt Murphy with an unorthodox reverse stick shot from the top of the circle to be followed by Michael McKenzie who was the first to react to a scramble following a penalty corner.    And that was half-time.

Grange went further ahead in the second half with two quick strikes from David Nairn, Kim Hoffman pulled one back for the Lions, but in the final seconds Dylan Bean added a seventh for a convincing victory.

Hillhead have always been capable of a huge result and they went to Edinburgh to take on the students and came away with a 3-1 win to regain fifth place.  The Glasgow side were a goal up at half-time after Murray Ross bundled the ball over the line from a metre out.  Hillhead continued to assert their dominance when Matt Carder deflected in from a Fraser Ward hit and then Jimmy Lynch Small shot home following a long ball from Callum Duke for a three goal lead.  The students got a late consolation through Alex Wilson but the day belonged to Hillhead.

In the lower six Dunfermline Carnegie finally broke their duck with an astonishing 5-1 win over Grove Menzieshill – but sadly it was too little too late to save their survival.  Sam Eadie scored twice while the other goals emanated from Theo Wood, Mickey Ross and Josh Love with Cammy Paton getting the Taysiders consolation.

Grove Menzieshill`s defeat allowed Clydesdale to move into seventh spot on a slender goal difference following a 4-1 win at home over Dundee Wanderers, for whom Callum Ross was on target.

In the relegation zone Uddingston pulled themselves out of the play-off position with a 5-2 win over Inverleith who now drop back into that slot. On target for Uddy were Alex McGregor with a double with Finn Halliday, Jedd Campbell and Max Strachan adding to the tally, Charlie Jack and Stuart Hatton replying for the Edinburgh outfit.

 

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