Wildcats in Europe and Premiership continues at home

Western Wildcats men head to Barcelona this weekend for the opening rounds of this season`s EHL with high hopes, but with a tough draw in prospect. Belgian side Braxgata lie in wait on Saturday morning, before Wildcats face either hosts Real Club de Polo, or crack Dutch outfit Kampong the following day.

However, Wildcats are now fairly experienced European campaigners and both coach Vishal Marwaha and his charges know what to expect. Further, the Scottish champions faced a similar situation last year and showed great resilience at this elite European level, although finally going down 3-1 to Wimbledon from England and then 2-1 to another Belgian side Waterloo Ducks.

And domestic form has also been impressive, even so early in the season. Western lie second in the Premiership, scoring 31 goals in their four matches so far.

Coach Vishal Marwaha summed up the challenge, “Braxgata are a quality team with some talented individuals. It`s a great opportunity to play against an excellent team and we are really excited with the challenge.”

The good news is that the Wildcats travel to Barcelona with almost a full squad, only Scott Menzies is absent through injury.

On the domestic scene little has changed since last week as Storm Amy wiped out most of the weekend fixtures.

Perhaps the game of the day in the men`s card is Watsonians visit to the den of ESM Lions – that is top v third in the table. The Lions have made a very positive start to the season with three wins and a draw, but pundits will say they have yet to test their resolve against the likely title contenders. Well, that will change on Saturday against Watsonians and the outcome will be interesting.

Under the new coaching umbrella of Sam Judge Watsonians are clearly a force to be reckoned with, and they have been scoring goals through Charlie Jack and others while at the same time only conceding a few. Although last time out they had to battle to overcome Grange by 3-2, so perhaps some encouragement here for the ESM management.

So what of the chasing pack? Western are involved in Europe and you would expect Grange will be seeking to keep in touch with a home win over Hillhead.

Then there is Edinburgh University who have a double header weekend at home to Clydesdale on Saturday and away to St Andrews University the following day. Coach Neil Allan would be expecting six points in the bag, and that should put them within a whisker of the top if the likes of Jamie Golden, Keir Robb and Arthur Owens can maintain their impressive striking form.

Uddingston have moved into the top six recently and will be focused on maintaining that status with a home win over Dundee Wanderers.

Newly promoted St Andrews University have still to find their sea legs at this level, without a win in four outings, but could break their duck at home to Inverleith. Scoring goals seems to be a problem for the students with only two, but then again the visitors have lost their last three games without finding the net at all. So it might be a close affair.

St Andrews University are sitting top of the perch in the women`s Premiership, albeit they have played a game or so more than the others. So can the students maintain that challenge?

Well, Saturday could be the acid test, they’re away to Clydesdale Western at Titwood. Now that is a challenge. Clydesdale are only a point behind with a game in hand and have won their three games so far in some style with goals coming from several different quarters. Then again St Andrews have been no slouches in the goal scoring department either with 25 in their four games, and again emanating from several players.

The chasing pack will be focused on not losing ground – Edinburgh University are at home to Inverleith, Wildcats visit Hillhead, while Watsonians entertain Aberdeen University.

So what about GHK? A pre-season title contender, now holding up the division. Perhaps the biggest surprise was their 3-2 loss to uddingston last weekend, so they will be out to ensure they start progressing up the table at home to Glasgow University.

So what of Uddingston, now in the top six after last weekend`s three points? If there is a renaissance on the cards in Lanarkshire, then another three points at home to Grange could be on the cards.

 

TUESDAY EVENING

On Tuesday evening Watsonians leapt into second spot in the division with a 14-0 crushing of Inverleith, and once again Scotland striker Sarah Jamieson was the catalyst with five. In addition, there were two goals each for Fiona Burnet, Katherine Holdgate, and Jenna Park while Milly Berndes-Cade, Ailsa Small and Ellie Rutherford competed the scoring. Inverleith remain third from bottom.

 

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