Premiership and Scottish Cup Action this Weekend

The top four clubs in the Open/Men’s Premiership remained where they were after last weekend’s draws, the pressure may be slightly off Western Wildcats and ESM Lions this Saturday, but Watsonians and Uddingston clash in Edinburgh, so presumably something will give here. This is the game of the weekend.

Meanwhile, as the top four sides continue to tackle each other, FSEG Clydesdale and champions Edinburgh University are gradually closing the gap.

Watsonians were happily trotting along at an average of five goals a game but that dramatically dried up with blanks all round against ESM. So, the return of shooting sticks required if Sam Judge’s charges are not going to drop more points against one of the best organised defences in the land at Uddy. The Lanarkshire side did well to keep their shape with the visit of Western Wildcats last weekend, thus ending the Auchenhowie side’s perfect record.

So, this clash promises to be another close affair with the outcome very much in the balance.

Whatever the outcome in Edinburgh, Western Wildcats will surely benefit, but only if they can see off Hillhead at home. The latter picked up their first win of the season scoring eight against Dunfermline Carnegie, Amar Sagoo getting a hat-trick, and they have risen to seventh in the table as a result.

Yet it is difficult to see the Hillhead defence withstanding the might of the Wildcats’ goal machine spearheaded by Fraser Moran. They were restricted to two by the Uddingston rearguard last weekend, although missing the influential Rob Harwood. Nonetheless, it is anticipated Wildcats will take the points at home on Saturday.

ESM Lions will be looking to continue their recent good run of form with a home win over Grove Menzieshill. Like Uddingston it looks as if the Lions are not only destined for a top six status but last weekend’s draw with Watsonians perhaps demonstrates their ability to compete against the top sides. However, they must also show they can see off the teams from the lower echelons as well.

The Taysiders have yet to show any real form in this season’s competition, they lie third from bottom on four points but were perhaps unfortunate to concede two late goals to Clydesdale’s Luke Bannerman last weekend. Consequently, the Dundonians will do well to take something from their visit to Edinburgh on Saturday.

FSEG Clydesdale have advanced their cause after back-to-back wins and are now only two points adrift of fourth place. The Titwood side could advance their cause further with another three points at an Inverleith outfit that leaked eleven goals last weekend. That’s the task facing Harry Dunlop’s charges.

After a slightly sticky spell recently, Edinburgh University roared back into action with eleven goals without reply against Inverleith, Sam Hunt, Keir Rob and Tom Cahalin being the principal strikers. However, the champions are lacking the services of injured Jamie Golden who was last season’s top striker so the others will have to step up, and that they did with a vengeance last Saturday. So, can they do so again at Kelburne? That they will have to do if they hope to successfully defend their title.

Grange are at last beginning to lift themselves off the danger area with their first win of the season against Kelburne, and further recovery can be achieved at bottom side Dunfermline Carnegie this Saturday.

Even at this early stage it is difficult to see any side halting the winning sequence of either Watsonians or Azets Clydesdale Western in the Women’s Premiership, and Saturday looks to be no exception.

Watsonians are at home to bottom side Glasgow University, a contest between a free-scoring outfit and the students who have leaked 29 goals so far, not the ingredients of an upset.

To be fair, Clydesdale have a more testing encounter against fourth placed Grange, but even here it is unlikely the Edinburgh side will be able to halt the Tiltwood scoring machine. Last weekend it was Bronwyn Shields who stole the show with a double at Uddingston but there are a number of other strikers waiting in the wings.

Tuesday evening’s catch-up fixture saw GHK continue their impressive run of form take them into second spot in the Premiership after a 3-1 win over Uddingston. They overtake Clydesdale by a single point, but perhaps temporary as they have played two more games. Once again, Lucy Williamson was on target with a double with Jess Halley the other scorer. D`Arcey Campbell replied for Uddy.

GHK will not be able to consolidate that advancement as it is their turn to be idle this Saturday. However, Uddy’s hold on sixth spot could now be under threat unless they can take the three points away to Hillhead.

Also on Tuesday, Wildcats got their claws into Hillhead with a 5-0 win at Auchenhowie, a result that propels the Cats up to fifth in the table. A hat-trick from Kate Holmes was the basis of the victory, Alex Stuart scored from a deflection while Heidi Logan converted from the spot. The Wildcats will face a sterner test on Saturday away to an Edinburgh University side that are also just inside the top six status so this could be quite a close encounter.

After an unbeaten start to the campaign, St Andrews University have slipped back to seventh after a couple of defeats, but they have the chance to reverse the trend when they travel to Aberdeen to take on Gordonians who have yet to collect a point.

Sunday is Scottish Cup day.

The Open/Men’s competition is at the last 16 stage with some juicy ties in prospect. None more so than at Auchenhowie where Premiership leaders Western Wildcats entertain second placed Watsonians where both sides are unbeaten so far this season. This could be a cracker; the winner is which side is up for it on the day.

There are two other all-Premiership ties. You would expect Edinburgh University to see off Inverleith but Grange’s visit to Grove Menzieshill could be a close affair as both are occupying the lower echelons of the Premiership.

Elsewhere, bottom side Dunfermline Carnegie could come a cropper at second tier Dundee Wanderers and the same might befall Kelburne at Gordonians, but you would anticipate easier passages for Clydesdale, ESM Lions and Hillhead.

The Women’s competition is a stage behind in the last 32 and the ties are a mixture of first, second and even third strings. The only all-Premiership clash sees Hillhead travel to Uddingston, and here the home side must start favourites.

 

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