Banana skin fixture for Grange

PRESIDENTS/PEREGRINES CUP

The meeting of Clydesdale and Grange on the opening day
of this season`s Presidents Cup on Saturday is a re-run of the
final the last time this tournament was staged a couple of years
ago, that day the Titwood outfit triumphed 3-2.

The tournament is occasioned by Scotland`s preparations for the
first round of the World League in Portugal later this month,
consequently first division sides play without their international
players.  For that reason, champions Glynhill Kelburne, who
are likely to have several players in the Scotland squad, have
elected not to compete.

Grange, who finished runners-up in last season`s league table,
will start favourites for this clash, although this has always been
a potential banana-skin fixture for the Edinburgh side.  
The sides drew 1-1 at Titwood early last season, Colin McIver
scored for Grange while Ben Peterson found the net for the home
side, although Grange won the return confrontation 3-2 at
Peffermill, Cammie Fraser got two and Andrew Brogdon the other that
day.

Rob Barr explained the Grange attitude to this
fixture.   “Clydesdale always provide us with a tough
game so it will be a good test to see where we are after our
pre-season training and what we need to work on for the start of
the league season and the EuroLeague.”

There have been the usual comings and goings in the Grange camp,
defender George Lambert has returned to London and goalkeeper Colin
Johnstone has retired.   In compensation, Duncan Birst
and Stuart Laing have joined from Edinburgh University, under 21
keeper Sean Hadfield has moved from neighbours CALA Edinburgh while
Peter McCosh is also a new recruit.

However, Grange will probably welcome back their under 21
Scotland quartet of Adam Walker, Matt Connor, Fraser Sands and 16
year old Hamish Imrie.

Clydesdale, still under the captaincy of Ross Macpherson, have
lost a few players, Ben Peterson and Adam Bain have returned to
Kelburne, Michael Cockburn goes to Edinburgh on a job placement,
and it is thought that Alan Law has taken up a post at St Andrews
University.  However, Neil Fulton returns to his roots at
Titwood after a spell with Edinburgh University, while Irishman
Rory McCann will add some punch up front for Clydesdale. 
(Titwood @ 14.30)

Newly promoted AAM Gordonians and Watsonians will test their
readiness for the top flight with fixtures against Inverleith and
Western Wildcats respectively.  (Western game Auchenhowie @
11.30)   The Aberdeen side have a double helping this
weekend, they entertain a Grove Menzieshill side that will be
without internationalists Gavin Byers and Ross Stott on Sunday.

Champions Kelburne will, however, be in action this weekend in a
friendly round-robin tournament with Clydesdale, Grange and English
premier league side Loughborough making up the opposition.

The Paisley outfit will be seriously weakened by the absence of
several international players on Scotland duty, but will be
reinforced with the return of the under 21 players Ross McIntyre,
Lee Morton, Ed Greaves and Clydesdale recruit Ben Peterson.

“Again giving younger players the exposure of playing against
quality sides like Loughborough and Grange who have experience of
previous EuroLeague campaigns is helping in the push towards
success this season,” said Mark Ralph, Kelburne`s
coach.    “We will keep trying to implement what we
do in training and put them into games under a bit more
pressure.”

Ralph mentioned that no fewer than eight teenagers travelled to
play Beeston and Bowdon last weekend, with Jack McAllister and Jack
McKenzie particularly impressing the coach.

The Peregrines Cup shock-brigade Western Wildcats will have a
stern test of their credentials against VWS Dundee Wanderers at
Auchenhowie.   The Wildcats raised a few eyebrows last
weekend with an 8-1 win over Giffnock, a side that finished third
in the table last year.   Murray Laing, the Wildcats`
coach, will be out to show that the opening result was no fluke by
doing something similar to VWS Dundee Wanderers on
Sunday.   (Auchenhowie @ 12.00)

Newly promoted Inverleith have their baptism in the top fligh
when they travel to Titwood on Sunday to face Milne Craig
Western, last season`s runners-up in the
league.     This could be a real test of the
Edinburgh side`s resolve, although Western left it late to see off
CALA 2-1 last weekend, a belated strike from Jenny Eadie finally
sealed the three points.  (Titwood @ 15.30)

Giffnock lost back to back fixtures against champions Grove in
the league last season, but it is difficult to predict the outcome
of this fixture on Sunday with so many players missing.  
Giffnock clearly had a youthful experimental  side out against
the Wildcats last week, while Grove`s resources will be severely
stretched with the absence of five players in the Scotland squad
for the test matches against Ireland over the weekend.

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