Judge`s charges a new force

ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT NATIONAL LEAGUE

The women`s league is in full swing this weekend
following Scotland Women’s participation in the Champions
Challenge.

With the addition of several key players, in particular Nikki
Kidd, keeper Nicki Cochrane and Louise Fleming, Edinburgh
University player/coach Sam Judge is hopeful of a good start to the
season, starting with a win over Glynhill Kelburne at
Peffermill.

“It`s always nice to get off to a winning start and I think
everyone looks at the opening day results,” said Judge.  “It
also instils confidence in the squad and hopefully winning can
become a habit.”

Judge sees the arrival of Scotland player Nikki Kidd as a huge
asset.   “She had a very good summer playing with the
Scotland squad, at the Champions Challenge she played some of the
best hockey I`ve seen her play, and hopefully she can carry that on
into the domestic season.”    Judge will also have
the bonus of Kidd`s drag flick routine at penalty corners, that
could cause problems for the Kelburne defence on Saturday.

Edinburgh University finished fourth in last season`s table, but
with the addition of six new players and the loss of only two,
Judge`s charges could well be moving up a place or two by the end
of this campaign.

Grove Menzieshill took the title by a single point from Milne
Craig Western last season, and should start off the defence of
their crown with a solid win over Inverleith at DISC.  
The Dundonians may have goalkeeping issues after the departure of
Nicki Cochrane to Edinburgh University, but that may not be a
concern for this Saturday.

Coach Murray Laing has given the Wildcats a new sense of purpose
this season with a few good performances in the Peregrines Cup, but
it is unlikely to be enough to stem the tide of a Milne Craig
Western outfit that strung together a winning sequence of 15 games
last season, and just missed out on the title.

Giffnock, who finished third in last season`s
championships, seem a shadow of their former selves with the loss
of several of their young players, principally Louise Fleming, Lucy
Lanigan and Heather Lang to Edinburgh University.   Also,
it will be interesting to see how often former double Olympian
Rhona Simpson turns out.   Last season Giffnock completed
the double over Grange, 1-0 and 3-0, it will be interesting to see
if that level of success is still on the cards, although the return
of Scotland defender Kareena Marshall should help.

Dundee Wanderers home tussle with CALA Edinburgh could be a
close affair, although the Taysiders will have Scotland players
Vikki Bunce and Becky Ward on duty.   Wanderers won the
equivalent game 5-1 last season, but then fell by a single goal on
the return in Edinburgh, Amy Brodie from a penalty corner separated
the teams that day.    CALA have already put three
points on the board with a 3-1 away win at Inverleith last weekend,
so the Edinburgh outfit may expect further rewards from Dundee.

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