Musical chairs at the top of the Premierships

So let’s start off with the events of last Thursday evening.

Watsonians moved back to the top of the women`s Premiership with a twelve goal victory at Hillhead on Thursday evening.  As a consequence Edinburgh University and Clydesdale Western both move down a place in the top three…and Hillhead remain second from bottom.   Once again Sarah Jamieson was top scorer with a hat-trick, there were two each for Ailsa Small, Jenna Park and Fiona Burnet while Katherine Holdgate, Ellie Rutherford and Emily Dark were also on target.

Further down, GHK continued their revival by moving up to fourth on goal difference from Grange after a 2-1 win over St Andrews University who move back to sixth…but still in the top six.  Once again it was Lucy Williamson and Sophie Byrne who scored for the Glasgow side with Lucy Jamieson replying for the students.

In the men`s competition Uddingston continue to show solid progress with another three points in a 4-1 home win over Inverleith – and they have moved up to second in the table, although they have played a game or so more than Western Wildcats and Edinburgh University who both move down a place. For Inverleith, the hopes of a top six place are becoming slighter.

Jedd Campbell put the home side ahead at a penalty corner in only three minutes but in quarter two Tyler Stagg levelled with a set piece shot into the roof of the net.   But the scoring was left to Uddy after that, Angus Miller from close range and Finn Halliday with a simple tap in put them 3-1 up at the interval.   The only goal of the second half came from former Australian international striker and Olympian Glenn Turner with a tidy finish.   In fact, the Aussie had a significant influence on proceedings with a goal and two assists.

And now on to the events of Saturday`s Premiership action.

It is Edinburgh University`s turn to top the men`s Premiership after a 5-1 win over Uddingston…and surprise, surprise it was Jamie Golden who ended the Lanarkshire side`s undefeated run with four goals, Keir Robb got the other one.   Max Strachan was on target for Uddy.   Despite the reversal Uddy are still well established in fourth position in the table.

At Auchenhowie Western Wildcats and Watsonians fought out a 3-3 draw in what was described as a tremendous game of hockey.    It was a pulsating encounter which started when Charlie Jack put the visitors in front with a shot into the postage stamp corner of the net…and that is how it stood at the interval.

In the second half Western seemed to take control with an equaliser from Adam Mackenzie from the top of the circle and then Fraser Moran from the spot.   Moran then advanced Western`s advantage to 3-1 with a penalty corner conversion.   But back came Watsonians in the final minutes, Tommy Orr reduced the deficit and in a dramatic denouement Gabe Tenner rescued a point for Watsonians with an overtime penalty corner strike.   So honours even in a great advert for the game.

Meanwhile, Grange have virtually assured themselves a place in the top six with a 3-1 win over Inverleith at Fettes.  Kyle Reid scored twice for the home side in the first half, the first a shot from the top of the circle and then a deflection at the far post.  In the final quarter Livio Belotti added a third following a rebound off the bar and Grange had the three points in the bag.  Zak Turtle scored a consolation for Inverleith at a late penalty corner.

ESM Lions retain fifth spot after a 3-1 win at St Andrews University.   The visitors were ahead through Olly Pillinger in a fairly even first half.   But the Edinburgh side increased their tally in the second half through Theo Wood and Paddy Crookshanks with a lovely deflection.    Daniel Leitch was on target for t he students.

Hillhead continued their recent good run with a 2-1 win over Dundee Wanderers.   After a goalless first half Hillhead took the lead when a cross across the keeper was hit into the net by Ewan Campbell.  Wanderers levelled at a penalty corner but the winner emerged from a drive into the circle by Fraser Ward and his cross was tapped into the net by Daniel Squires.

Further down the table Grove Menzieshill triumphed 3-2 over Clydesdale to move up the table.   Jamie Spratt put the Taysiders ahead with a deflection but back came the Dale with a double from Charlie Feeney for a 2-1 lead.   The home side retaliated and Spratt again then Connor Chapman gave Menzieshill the narrow victory.

Watsonians are still top of the women`s Premiership after an eleven goal win at Glasgow University.   Fiona Burnet led the charge with a hat-trick, and there were two each for Ailsa Small and Sarah Jamieson while Katherine Holdgate, Ellie Rutherford, Ellie Wilson and Milly Berndes-Cade also made their contribution.

However, Clydesdale Western move up to second after a convincing 4-1 win over Edinburgh University who drop to third.   The Dale scorers were Ciara Forgie, Frances Lonergan, Millie Steiger and Jenny Eadie, Emily McLean replied with a tap-in following a penalty corner scramble.

St Andrews University move back to fourth place with a 5-1 over Grange who fall back to sixth.   Charlotte Bosma was the catalyst with four goals with Amy Edgar getting the other, Freya Philip replied for Grange to end their impressive recent form.

In a battle for a top six place Wildcats and GHK fought out a 2-2 draw which leaves the latter in fifth and the Cats drop down to eighth with a bit to do to get into the top flight – next weekend`s game against Grange could decide that scenario.  Olivia Finch with a tap-in at a penalty corner and Chloe Hardie with a solo against the keeper were on target for the Cats while Lucy Williamson and Kayleigh Justice were GHK`s scorers.

Uddingston take over in seventh after a 4-1 win at Hillhead, Wendy MacIntyre scored their consolation at a penalty corner.

And so on to Sunday`s few catch-up games and how they affected anything.

Clydesdale Western went back to the top of the women`s Premiership after scoring a dozen at Aberdeen University.   Clydesdale now join Watsonians on 27 points but with a superior goal difference, but the champions have a game in hand against Uddingston on Tuesday evening.   Ciara Forgie topped the scoring with five while Jika Nyirenda collected a hat-trick, the rest were all singles.

In the men`s competition Edinburgh University confirmed their pole position with an eleven goal win over Grove Menzieshill, they now lead Watsonians by three and Wildcats by five, but both have games in hand.   Once again the catalyst was Jamie Golden with no fewer than eight to himself while Keir Robb, Callum Munro and Declan Bradley supplied the others.

ESM Lions overtake Uddingston into fourth place on goal difference after a 2-1 win over Clydesdale.  The Lions roared into the lead in the first half when Elliot Sandison got the last touch before the ball went in.   ESM pressure in the second half led to the second from Jack Collister.  Clydesdale pulled one back at a penalty corner through Ben Molson but that failed to alter the final result.

 

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