Watsonians take the women`s Premiership title at the eleventh hour

It was always going to be a close affair on the final day – a contest between Watsonians determined to defend their women’s Premiership title and Clydesdale Western who were aspiring to upset the applecart and grasp the silverware.

In the end it came down to goal difference, both sides finished on 40 points but Watsonians found their superior goal difference was the deciding factor.

Clydesdale needed to see off the rising GHK to grasp the title but the game ended in a 1-1 draw, top scorer Lucy Williamson scored for GHK while Ciara Forgie was on target for Clydesdale; but the point proved to be not enough.

Meanwhile at Auchenhowie Watsonians did what they had to do, that is beat Wildcats, and the score was 2-0.   The goals came in the first half through the ever-lethal Sarah Jamieson and penalty corner expert Emily Dark.

Watsonians coach Keith Smith, delighted, said: “Whatever happened at GHK we knew we had to win at Auchenhowie to keep the pressure on Clydesdale.   We did just that and obviously it was a bonus that Clydesdale dropped the two points to allow us to regain the title on goal difference.   Against Wildcats we were always in control and perhaps could have scored more, but it was a mature performance by the girls.”

However, the bonus for GHK is that the single point allowed them to retain third spot in the Premiership and a place in European play-off.

Meanwhile Edinburgh University consolidated fourth place and the final spot in the play-offs with a five goal defeat of the Glasgow students.  Here there were individual scorers, that is Itske Hooftman, Cat Nelli, Ava Smith, Harri Platt and Zara Kennedy.

There was not much at stake in the lower competition and the results were fairly according to expectation.

St Andrews University finished in seventh after a 4-0 win over Uddingston and the highlight was a double for Iona Syme.

Grange finished in eighth after a 10 goal win over Fjordhus Reivers – not a good end to their sojourn in the Premiership.  Heather Croll scored a hat-trick, there were two goals each for Rachel Sheil and Izzy Alexander while Megan Forrester, Freya Philip and Kirsten Cannot got singles.

Inverleith moved up to third in the bottom half after a 2-1 win at Hillhead, the goals came from Bopii Monte after a good run from Eva Hodge while the other was a wonder strike from Hannah Law after some good build up play.

Western Wildcats men finished off their Premiership campaign with a comfortable if not spectacular 4-0 win over ESM Lions at Auchenhowie.

It was only one at the interval courtesy of a back post tap in by Fraser Moran. Then 17-year-old Ben McLellan, on his first outing this season, doubled the Wildcats tally. Towards the end of the match Cameron Moran added a third with a reverse stick shot and finally in the final minute Aussie Simon Wells added another tap in to complete the scoring.

In the Edinburgh derby it was the students who triumphed 3-2 over Watsonians – Iain McFadden, Keir Robb and Tim Cahalin were on target for the winners while Danny Cain and Jack Cahalin replied for Watsonians – Cahalin scorers on both sides of the spectrum.

Grange completed an unbeaten run in the second half of the Premiership with a 2-1 win at Hillhead – they moved up to second in the table and also gained some revenge for their cup exit.  It was 1-1 at half time, Archie Stephen put Grange ahead at a rebound at a penalty corner only for James Small to level for Hillhead. The winner came in 38 minutes through a penalty corner conversion by Aidan McQuade.

In the men`s relegation issue Uddingston have survived the play-off after a 3-3 draw with Dunfermline Carnegie…the point gained put them level with Inverleith but Uddy had a vastly better goal difference. Jedd Campbell got a couple for Uddy with Finn Halliday getting the other while Andrew Doyle, Theo Wood and Sam Eadie were the Fifers scorers.

So it is Inverleith who will contest the play off despite a 3-2 win over Clydesdale, their scorers were Charlie Jack, Hamish Norval and Thomas Barton. However, Clydesdale retain top spot in the lower six but only on goal difference from Grove Menzieshill and Dundee Wanderers.

This time the Tayside derby went to Wanderers with a 3-1 win over Grove Menzieshill and the catalyst was a hat-trick from Bobby Ralph. Alfie Bonnar got Menzieshill’s consolation in the fourth quarter. The result puts Wanderers level on points with their Tayside rivals but Menzieshill hang on to eighth spot on goal difference.

 

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