Last Season’s Top Sides Triumph on Opening Day of Open/Men’s Premiership

An opening day of some interest, last season’s leading sides Edinburgh University, Western Wildcats, Watsonians and Uddingston all had convincing victories. Clydesdale saw off Grange, whilst Grove Menzieshill and Hillhead were locked on 1-1.

Watsonians opened the 2026-27 season with an early 6-0 win over newly promoted Kelburne, so they have set out an early stall. Charlie Jack was again prominent in the scoring department with a hat-trick, and the other goals came from Guy Rowson, Ewen Mackie and Harry Yarr. Coach Sam Judge remarked: “We had three guys who’d never played Premiership before, and they did well which was good.”

A six-goal victory seems to have been popular as that was Western Wildcats tally over newcomers Dunfermline Carnegie, with another hat-trick claimed in Fife, curtesy of Fraser Moran. The Western Wildcats’ predator scored twice in the first half from both open play and penalty corner and then completed the scoring in the final minutes. In between, the other goals came from Adam Mackenzie, Luc Hermsen and Rob Harwood.  Perhaps the Western Wildcats are also setting out an early stall.

Premiership champions Edinburgh University also bagged six goals, but this time it was a 6-2 win over ESM Lions. In fairly even opening encounters it was the Lions who struck first through Keegan Russell. Then the students stepped up a gear or two and romped into a 6-1 lead – almost inevitably it was Jamie Golden who stole the show with four, and the others came from Arthur Owens and Jonny Bradley. Near the end, Livio Belotti ended the scoring with a well taken finish on his Lions debut.

Edinburgh coach Martin Beckford related: “Lots to build on for us, three players made their competitive debuts for the club and acquitted themselves well. Overall pleased with the outcome and looking forward to training and playing well next week as we keep working hard to improve.”

Uddingston, fourth in last season’s Premiership, continued their winning ways with a 3-0 win at Inverleith. On target for Uddingston were Andy Doherty and Angus Sinclair, assisted by Euan Gilmour who also scored one of his own.

Perhaps not so expected was FSEG Clydesdale’s 5-2 win over Grange at Titwood, but it was well merited. The home side were two up at the interval, Andrew Allan opened after a scramble in the circle followed by a shot from the top of the circle from Euan Anderson. The Dale galloped to a 4-0 lead with a spin and shot from Allan and a reverse stick finish from Ian King. Albert Rowling pulled one back for the Edinburgh side at a penalty corner, but there was to be no revival as Charlie Feeney rounded the Grange keeper and slotted home for a 5-1 lead. Rowling again netted at a set piece for Grange but by that time it was simply a consolation.

The final game of the day between Grove Menzieshill and Hillhead ended in a 1-1 draw. Findlay Duncan opened with a convincing finish from a rebound after an initial shot from Luke Cranney in the first quarter, but Hillhead’s Sean Horgan levelled after the interval. Hillhead’s Fraser Ward remarked: “Fairly dominant performance from us with lots of chances and corners that we didn’t convert.  But most of our chances were scrappy, nothing totally clear cut, and Menzieshill kept their D fairly crowded and absorbed a lot of pressure.” However, the home side had an overtime penalty corner to win the contest, but nothing came of it.

 

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