Edinburgh Uni host Uddingston to round off Men’s National League 1

The first part of the Men’s National league 1 campaign is done and dusted, Grange head the division with a three point lead over champions Bromac Kelburne, but Edinburgh University and Uddingston meet for the second time in a week in a catch-up fixture at Peffermill for the sole remaining encounter.

The students are presently in fifth place in the table, but seven points adrift of Western Wildcats for a place in the top four, three points from this weekend`s encounter would go a long way to narrowing that gap.

Edinburgh Uni v Uddingston
Photo by Mark Pugh

Despite the usual annual changes in personnel coach Graham Moodie has managed to steer a steady ship with three wins, draws and defeats. But the coach was optimistic about his charges’ record so far this season.

“We have had a positive first half of the league season so far, we are also top of our British Universities league. There have been some good performances in the league and overall we have played some good hockey.”

The students have put in some good performances, a 2-2 draw away at Grove Menzieshill, a 5-1 defeat of Hillhead and the recent convincing 3-0 win over Wildcats were the highlights, and however there were some indifferent results mixed in.

Ironically University played the Lanarkshire team last Saturday with a 3-3 draw the final outcome.

On that Moodie said: “That game was very tight and both teams will feel that they could have won.

“We have some key players returning from injury this weekend which strengthens our squad and we aim to learn from last week and to finish this half with a win.”

There is no shortage of firepower in the Edinburgh ranks – 28 goals in nine outings is proof of that, and only top sides Grange and Bromac Kelburne have scored more. Chief striker is South African Davyn Keuter with ten, he was recruited at the start of the season from second division Dunfermline Carnegie, while Ewen Mackie and David Mawhinney have pitched in with three each.

Edinburgh Uni v Uddingston
Photo by Mark Pugh

Uddingston`s Tom Hyndman is also anxious for the three points that would take his side away from the relegation play-off spots to a mid-table situation. The Lanarkshire side are presently in second bottom place with only one win and six points, but curiously they have held both Grange and Kelburne to high scoring draws on their own patch.

On last weekend`s encounter, Hyndman said: “We were ahead twice in the game but then lost two goals from penalty corners, while at the other end we failed to score from our set pieces as our best flicker was on the bench every time we were awarded one.

“Should we convert our penalty corners along with avoiding giving away cheap ones ourselves, I see no reason for not taking all the points this weekend.”

A win for Uddingston would lift them to nine points and level with Clydesdale and Hillhead before the winter shutdown.

 

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