NO REAL UPSETS IN TODAY`S PREMIERSHIP

Grange men started the day off with an early start and a 3-0 win over newly promoted St Andrews University at Fettes.   Livio Belotti opened the scoring for the home side inside five minutes and an avalanche might have been anticipated, but instead the students stuck to their task and Grange were frustrated by not adding to their tally – although manager Martin Shepherdson admitted much of that was due to poor finishing.    Grange did increase their total in the final five minutes through Jacob Tweedie and 16-year-old Angus Fletcher.

Watsonians were also on song with a 4-0 win over neighbours Inverleith, here Nathan Liggett bagged a couple while Charlie Jack and Duncan Riddell were also on target.

Undoubtedly the game of the day, and a positive advert for the game in Scotland, was the 3-3 draw between Edinburgh University and Western Wildcats at Peffermill.   Perhaps the highlight was a hat-trick of penalty corners by Edinburgh`s Jamie Golden – ironically against his last year`s team mates – but it was not enough to secure the three points.

However, Golden gave the students an early two goal lead from the set piece, the first an unusual solo weave rather than a shot while the second was a low, hard shot.   But just before the interval, former student Iain McFadden pulled one back for the champions when he buried a rebound from his own shot at a penalty corner.   Wildcats were back on level terms with a penalty corner finish from Fraser Moran, and then took a 3-2 lead with another set piece goal from the same player.   But parity was restored by the end with another Golden finish…and that was probably a fair outcome.

ESM Lions are up with the top dogs after another three points in a 3-0 home win over Grove Menzieshill, and the culprit emanated from a hat-trick of penalty corner finishes from Cameron Ede.  However, it was refreshing to note that both sides had a lot of youngsters in their ranks.

Further down the table it was a first three points for Dundee Wanderers with a 2-0 home win over Clydesdale, Calan Gruar and Finlay Wright were the scorers.

Uddingston also broke their duck with a narrow 3-2 home win over Hillhead – all the goals came from penalty corners by Anup Valmiki with a couple and Max Strachan.   Matt Carder and one other replied for Hillhead.

The women`s game-of-the-day between GHK and Watsonians ended in a 4-2 win for the latter – but it was a close encounter.   Inside two minutes Watsonians` Emily Dark put the champions ahead from a penalty corner.   The visitors had other chances to extend their lead, and Katherine Holdgate even missed from the spot, but it was GHK`s Joanne Boyle who found the net to level the score.

Then Ellie Rutherford, on her return from the USA and on her debut, put the champions into a 2-1 lead, only for Sophie Byrne to level again for the Glasgow side.   But just before the interval Jenna Park gave Watsonians a narrow advantage.   The only goal in the second half came from the spot by Holdgate and Watsonians returned to Edinburgh with the three points.

Clydesdale continued their early form with a 3-0 at Grange – Emma McGregor, Ava Graham and player/coach Fiona Semple provided the goals.

Wildcats continue to rattle in the goals, this time a 5-1 win at Aberdeen University.   The Cats were two up at the interval, Rachel Osborne scored from the top of the circle at a penalty corner and then youngster Chloe Hardie added a second from open play.  Wildcats scoring continued in the second half, Corrie Hay supplied a solo effort, Lexi MacMillan converted at a penalty corner and Osborne completed the tally in the final quarter.   Just before the end Aberdeen`s Rebecca Gordon notched a consolation at a well worked penalty corner.

Edinburgh University were five goal winners at a match concession.

St Andrews University got the campaign off to a flying start with a five goal victory over the Glasgow students, here there were two goals each for Iona Syme, Charlotte Bosma and Hannah Coull.

The final clash of the day between Inverleith and Hillhead ended in a goalless draw – and Hillhead`s Jenny Campbell reflected “great to get a point on the board.”

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