Race for Top Six in Men’s and Women’s Premierships Well and Truly On

MEN’S PREMIERSHIP

With most teams having played seven games or so, that is with four left before the split, thoughts are now beginning to turn to the top six positions. The top sides are already well on their way, while the bottom sides are probably too far behind, but the mid-table outfits will be out to grasp these crucial points in the closing games.

Watsonians are still riding high in the men`s Premiership with maximum points. They overcame a vital hurdle last weekend with a 3-2 win over rivals Edinburgh University. They have an interesting outing this Saturday at home to a revitalised Uddingston side. On paper this should be a home win, especially as new coach Sam Judge seems to have installed a win ethic in her charges, with the added bonus of Charlie Jack being in such regular scoring form.

Last week`s preview explored the contribution of John Bessell to Uddingston’s rise, but Saturday`s clash with the in-form league leaders will be a real test of their resolve. They then have Edinburgh University the following week. If Uddingston can take something from one or both of these heavy fixtures and fourth place retained, then progress will indeed have been made.

In the chasing pack behind Watsonians – now five points adrift – are Western Wildcats who now up to second. They are away to Inverleith and with Fraser Moran, Rob Harwood and Iain McFadden in such fine scoring form, it is difficult to see the Edinburgh side being able to stem the tide.

Equally, the Edinburgh students should get back to winning ways at Dundee Wanderers, although the Taysiders can sometimes be a difficult nut to crack on their own patch.

Like Uddingston, ESM Lions are a side on the up and Saturday`s Edinburgh derby against Grange will test if their progress has roots. The Lions made a roaring start to the season but you have to go back to 21st September to find their last victory, so it has shaded a little. Grange could be there for the taking as they are regrouping this season after the loss of several key players, and their results have been a bit up and down. Grange`s Jacob Tweedie has hit a bit of scoring form recently, as he notched four against Grove Menzieshill last weekend.

Hillhead might fancy their chances of a top six places after three wins in their last four games, with player/coach Fraser Ward picking up some goals along the way. Grove Menzieshill in Dundee might not be the easiest of outings, although they have only won one in six so far.

Finally, there is the bottom of the table clash at Titwood between Clydesdale and St Andrews University – with only one point between them. Despite poor form this season, they will be favourites to take the points and break their duck to begin progress up the table to safer regions.

 

WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP

The women`s Premiership has a new leader – Edinburgh University – courtesy of a 1-1 draw with Wildcats, and Watsonians game against Hillhead not taking place.

Perhaps the draw at Auchenhowie last weekend was not the result coach Henry Langton was looking for, but on Saturday his charges have another potential banana skin against a St Andrews side that now occupies fourth in the table. St Andrews have had a reasonable start to the campaign with four wins, a draw and two defeats, however the latter was five goals down to both Watsonians and Clydesdale. If they could take something from the Edinburgh game that would greatly enhance their chances of a top six place. Equally Edinburgh will almost certainly need the three points to stay top of the pile.

Clydesdale Western should maintain their challenge with a home win over Hillhead while Watsonians entertain a Wildcats side that pull out the big result when sometimes least expected. So the question is – can they do to the champions what they did to Edinburgh last weekend at Auchenhowie? Wait and see!

Grange are on a wee bit of a roll with three victories in their last four matches and have moved up to fifth in the table. Coach Sean Hadfield will fancy his chances of extending their recent good form with a home win over a Glasgow University side that leaked 14 goals to Clydesdale last weekend and have only collected two points so far.

GHK`s mini-bandwagon continues after climbing from bottom to seventh, and within two points of the top group.   A hat-trick of wins could be followed by another at home against Inverleith if the likes of Sophie Byrne, Lucy Williamson and Hanna McKie can keep finding the net. The coveted sixth place could be theirs should the Wildcats succumb to Watsonians.

Finally, Uddingston`s recent results have been a bit of a mixed bag over the last few games, but they still occupy eighth place and could be too much for bottom side Aberdeen University.

Sunday sees the majority of the next round of the Scottish Cup leading to a place in the quarter-final draw.   There are two juicy ties in the women`s competition. Holders Edinburgh University`s trip to Grange from the top echelons of the Premiership. The students won the league encounter with a comfortable 5-0 but Grange have caused them cup problems in the past.

In another all-Premiership tie Watsonians were 4-2 winners against GHK in the early part of the season, but since then the Glasgow side have returned to better form and might put up some stiff resistance.

It will be interesting to see if Orkney can make the quarter-final stages as they take on ESM from the middle of the National League.

In the men`s competition, the tie of the round is undoubtedly holders Edinburgh University`s visit to the Wildcats den.  It could be a close encounter – the sides fought out a 3-3 draw in the league, Jamie Golden scored a hat-trick for the students while Iain McFadden and Fraser Moran twice replied for Wildcats – and all the goals emanated from penalty corners.

Other all-Premiership ties include Dundee Wanderers v Hillhead and Grange v ESM Lions for the second time in the weekend,

A game of some interest has the classic ingredients of an upset: Dunfermline Carnegie from the top of the second tier with seven games played and seven wins recorded against Clydesdale from the foot of the Premiership with no wins at all. Then again, it does not always pan out that way.

 

MIDWEEK ACTION

Edinburgh University opened up a four point cushion at the top of the women`s Premiership on Wednesday evening with a comfortable five goal victory over Glasgow at Peffermill, although they have played a game or so more than the chasing pack. New German signing Jojo Muhl continues to impress with a hat-trick while the other goals came from Dina Finn and Emily Morris. The result keeps Glasgow firmly in the lower reaches.

Wildcats returned to goal scoring form with a 12-1 win over Kelburne in the Scottish Cup on Tuesday evening. There were two goals each for Lucy Macmillan, Alex Stuart, Chloe Hardie, Emma McDiarmid and Kate Holmes while Kate Kellock and Rachel Bain were also on target.

In the men`s cup Glasgow University were 3-2 winners at FMGM Monarchs.

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