Getting a bit crowded at the top of the Premierships

Perhaps Uddingston have come of age in the men`s Premiership – they have inflicted Watsonians’ first defeat of the season and set down their marker for others to heed. And at the same time opened up the race for the Premiership title – Watsonians lead has been cut to just two points.

And at the same time Uddy have continued their impressive unbeaten run and consolidated their top six status – now only four points off the top.

On target for Uddy were Glenn Turner, Finn Halliday and Angus Sinclair while Charlie Jack replied for the Edinburgh side.

The chasing pack have taken full advantage of Watsonians’ woes. Western Wildcats are now only two points off the top – and with a game in hand – after a six goal mauling of Inverleith.  It was a case of a good start and a good finish, and not much in between.   In the first quarter Andrew McAllister, Iain McFadden and Rob Harwood put Wildcats three up. Then there was a lull in the scoring, until the final quarter when McFadden again, Dutchman Just Noordzij and Fraser Moran from the spot doubled the tally.

Third placed Edinburgh University were also in form with a 5-1 win at Dundee Wanderers. Keir Robb opened for the students but that was followed by an equaliser from Callum Ross at a penalty corner. Thereafter the goals came from Edinburgh, Jamie Golden grabbed a hat-trick and Arthur Owens was the other scorer with a superb high deflection. Worthy of mention was Wanderers` young keeper Douglas Brook, standing in for the regular keeper through illness, who played well under pressure.

ESM Lions have kick-started their campaign with a 3-2 home win over Grange and restart their move up the table to fifth, in contrast Grange move back to sixth. The Lions roared into a two goal lead in the first quarter through Jack Collister from the spot and a penalty corner conversion by Cameron Ede, but back came Grange in the third with open play strikes by Livio Belotti and Jacob Tweedie. However, it was the Lions who finally got their whiskers in front with a late goal from Theo Wood.

In the lower reaches, Grove Menzieshill and Hillhead fought out a 2-2 draw which pushes both slightly towards the top six. Findlay Duncan at a penalty corner and Euan Cuthill with a deflection from a Connor Chapman cross were the Taysider strikers while Matt Carder and Fraser Ward replied for the Glasgow side.

Right at the bottom Clydesdale moved slightly closer to safety with a 5-1 win over St Andrews University who are still waiting for their first point of the campaign.  The Titwood scorers were Andrew Allan, Nicholas Richmond, Euan Lindsay, Joel Reid and Thomas McInroy, the students` reply came from Jacob Anderson.

As with the men, the lead at the top of the women`s Premiership has been cut after leaders Edinburgh University drew 2-2 with St Andrews. The result leaves Edinburgh still top but only by two points and they have played one or two game more than the chasing pack. St Andrews dropped down to fifth but still very much heading to a top six finish.

Almost inevitably Jojo Muhl scored both goals for Edinburgh, the first from a rebound at a penalty corner and the other from the spot, while Bella Munoz got both St Andrews goals.

Clydesdale Western remain second after a 14-0 win at home over Hillhead – their second such massive total in a row. Here there were doubles for Jen Eadie, Cara Forgie, Bronwyn Shields, Fiona Semple and Emma McGregor while Annabel Ballantyne, Heather Howie, Millie Steiger and Rhiannon Carr picked up the others.

Watsonians are on the same points as Clydesdale, but with a game less played, after a 2-1 win over Wildcats who now drop out of the top six – perhaps temporarily. After a goalless first half Tabitha Peck put the champions ahead but at the start of the final quarter Emma McDiarmid levelled for the Cats with a tap in at a penalty corner. But Ailsa Small was on hand to grab the winner from a rebound at a penalty corner for Watsonians soon after and take the points.

Watsonians` coach Keith Smith reflected: “It was a bit one-way traffic as we had a lot of the ball, but Wildcats defended well in depth and that was difficult to penetrate, consequently we had not many clear-cut chances to score.”

Grange moved up to fourth after a 4-1 win over Glasgow University, their scorers were Rachel Shiel with two and Heather Croll and Kirsten Turnbull.   So far Grange are having one of their better seasons, and look promising to secure a place in the top flight.

GHK have moved up to sixth with a recent run of victories – this time it was a 5-0 win over Inverleith.  Lucy Williamson made her first major impact of the season with a hat-trick while Sophie Byrne got the other two.

Finally, Uddingston move closer to the top echelon with a 2-0 win over bottom side Aberdeen University.

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