Exciting Premiership and Scottish Cup weekend coming up

The women`s Premiership table suggests a three horse race, and the top three might fancy themselves for this to continue for a while yet, however, the closest contest could emanate from Peffermill where third placed Edinburgh University entertain Western Wildcats in fourth.

The `Cats may have had their ups and downs this season, and have had recent issues with injuries and illness, but there is no doubting their strength of purpose.

And that positive approach was eloquently conveyed by Kate Holmes, an internationalist of 76 Scotland caps.

Asked about how the season has gone so far Kate replied:

“It’s been an enjoyable season so far, we have a fairly young but very talented team and it’s been fantastic to see us grow and develop. We were pleased to secure our place in the top six as it`s given us the opportunity to test ourselves against the best teams in Scotland week in week out in this second half of the season.

“We have lost some tight matches where we have performed well, so for us it’s about focusing on those small details that will enable us to turn good performances into three points. When we’ve got things right as a team we have been playing some beautiful hockey and now we are looking to do that on a more consistent basis.”

Despite losing out to Watsonians and Clydesdale Western since the restart Kate, who previously played for top English sides Surbiton and Clifton Robinsons, was buoyant about the future at Auchenhowie. Kate said:

“It`s been a tough couple of weeks for the Cats as we’ve had to deal with a fair amount of adversity but it has only made us stronger as a unit. The way the team have adapted when we have been missing players is testament to the character of our squad. I’ve been so proud of how everyone has stepped up and taken responsibility and it’s really exciting to see some of our more inexperienced players flourishing. We are feeling positive about the weeks ahead and can’t wait for the next challenge on Saturday.”

Edinburgh may be in a good place for this one, given they have an eight point lead, but the `Cats are on the prowl and keen to get their claws into the students. Holmes added:

“We know they are a dangerous team with a lot of quality but our mind-set going into every game is that we go out to win. It was a narrow 2-1 defeat for us last time out at Auchenhowie so we’ll be working hard in training this week to try and improve this time around. We have had a number of players out with injury and illness in the last couple of weeks but we are hoping to have some back for Saturday and that will give us an added boost.”

Kate Homes of Western Wildcats v Merlins Gordonians – photo by Duncan Gray

At the moment Edinburgh University are six points off the top in the Premiership and three points from the Wildcats clash could be essential if they hope to challenge for the title and a European place at the end of the season.

So we spoke to Jess Ross who joined Edinburgh University from Dundee Wanderers in 2019 and has already picked up seven Scotland caps. Jess was equally upbeat about future prospects:

“Training has been going well the last few weeks and everyone is really excited to get stuck in to the second half of the season.”

The 25-year-old would not be drawn directly on the prospects of silverware, but instead remarked: “All we can control is how well we play as a team on the pitch on the day. Our focus for the second half of this season is to play our game and the results will come.”

And the result certainly came last weekend with a 5-0 defeat of GHK, former Scotland striker Amy Brodie getting a hat-trick.

On a personal note, Jess appears to have no regrets about joining coach Sam Judge`s talented squad at Peffermill. She said: I’m really enjoying playing at Edinburgh Uni. It’s amazing to play alongside so many driven, talented girls where everyone supports each other on and off the pitch.”

Clydesdale Western are still in pole position, they are level on 36 points with Watsonians but still have the advantage of a six goal lead and also a game in hand.

Derek Forsyth`s charges will hope to advance their points tally to 39 points with a home win over Hillhead, given last time it was 4-0 to Clydesdale.

Watsonians will hope for a similar outcome away at GHK, which would mean nothing should change at the top. But these ties will be no easy task as every team battles for points.

In the lower echelons Erskine Stewarts Melville are becoming increasingly detached and now face an encounter at Glasgow University. The students almost made the top six but slipped up last weekend allowing Grove Menzieshill the chance for a late equaliser.

Gordonians are on a four match losing sequence and only scoring a single goal in the process. Consequently they have dropped to tenth in the table, perilously close to the play-off relegation spot. Saturday could bring a reversal of fortunes with a home game against Grove Menzieshill, the side only a point below them. A repeat of the 2-1 win at Dalnacraig in October would certainly relieve the concerns in Aberdeen.

Grove Menzieshill did pick up a belated but valuable point against Glasgow University last weekend courtesy of a final minute last touch from debut schoolgirl Esher Lang.

Finally, Dundee Wanderers have romped up the table with a brace of victories since the restart of the campaign and on Saturday entertain an Uddingston side that have done exactly the same thing to move up to seventh place.

Photo by David McCarthy

MEN`S PREMIERSHIP

Western Wildcats’ quest for this season`s men`s Premiership is going well as they simply keep on winning and don`t really look like faltering. This Saturday`s Auchenhowie visitors Clydesdale will hope to start a sudden Western slump but will have the memory of a 7-3 defeat from the last time they met in September.

Meanwhile Grange, seven points adrift, are off the back of a 3-3 draw with Watsonians and a close 3-2 win at Clydesdale.

Grange`s rights to the three points on offer at Dunfermline Carnegie will have to be earned given that they were held to a 3-3 draw in November. Again for the Fifers it was set piece expert Aidan McQuade who was on target with two penalty corner strikes, as he was last Saturday in their outing at Edinburgh University.

So Grange will have to step it up in Fife on Saturday if they have any aspirations of putting real pressure on Western.

The all-Edinburgh clash between University and Watsonians at Peffermill has an interesting ring about it, both sides have shown that they thoroughly deserve their place in the top six. The earlier meeting in November had a dramatic denouement to it, it was goalless going into the final minute, but then Keir Robb finished with a cracking shot to give the students a very belated winner.

So it was a close encounter…and it will doubtless be again on Saturday.

The bottom of the Premiership looks equally settled with the Tayside pair Dundee Wanderers and Grove Menzieshill sharing the play-off and automatic relegation spots respectively. At the moment Wanderers have the slight advantage of a two point lead over their Dundee rivals, but both have certainly become detached with Kelburne, Hillhead and Uddingston all picking up three points last weekend.

However, points may be hard to get as Grove Menzieshill entertain a young Uddingston side that put four past Wanderers last weekend, Finn Halliday getting a hat-trick.

Wanderers travel to Edinburgh to face an Inverleith side that have a lot of potential but have struggled a bit recently with back to back defeats since the restart after the winter break. Further, Wanderers second win of the league campaign came at the expense of the Edinburgh outfit, Bobby Ralph (2) and Callum Ross getting the goals in a 3-1 win.

The final game is an all-West affair between Hillhead and Kelburne. The former won the earlier contest 2-0 with goals from Fraser Ward and Murray Ross.

SCOTTISH CUP QUARTER FINALS

The top sides in the women`s Premiership have been kept apart in the quarter final draw but they face a challenge to reach the semi-finals.

Watsonians meet GHK for the second time in the weekend and back-to-back games can often be very different. Western Wildcats travel to meet pointless Erskine Stewarts Melville, last time out it was a comfortable 5-1 victory.

Clydesdale Western beat Dundee Wanderers 7-0 last weekend to earn this Sunday`s final quarter final tie at Hillhead – the second meeting of the sides in two days. It was a bit of a canter for Clydesdale facing a Wanderers` side that contained five schoolgirls in the ranks. Fiona Semple was top scorer with a hat-trick, Holly Steiger got two and the others came from Emma Murray and Annabelle Ballantyne. However, the player of the contest was undoubtedly the Wanderers` young keeper Imogen Brown who pulled off a series of saves.

In the men`s competition the tie of the day brings Premiership leaders Western Wildcats up against second placed Grange at Auchenhowie.

In form Western won the league encounter 5-2 with a hat-trick from Andrew McConnell doing most of the damage. That said, the cup has a reputation for producing big results.

Second tier Gordonians have already dumped Premiership Kelburne out of the competition in the last round, and again they are at home, this time to Dunfermline Carnegie. Lightning might strike twice, but the Fifers will undoubtedly guard against the danger of another upset – but then again, who knows!

Edinburgh University look strong as they face city neighbours Inverleith, after all they won the league encounter 5-0 and have been in good form all season. Inverleith will have other ideas however.

Hillhead and Uddingston will battle it out on Thursday evening for a place in the quarter-finals with the winner at home to second tier Glasgow University.

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