Men`s top six Premiership competition starts up

It is almost four months since the last Premiership action for the top six sides – so here’s a reminder of where we left off.

Western Wildcats head the table with a perfect record after eleven games and they are five points ahead of Watsonians in second spot.  Edinburgh University are a further two points adrift in third while Grange are a further two behind the students.    These four sides will certainly hope to occupy the top four spots for the play-offs – but then again there are five games to play and 15 points at stake for each side, so Hillhead and ESM might feel they still have a chance.

So what is in store for Wildcats on Saturday, well they travel to Fettes to take on Grange in a fixture that is notoriously unpredictable to assess.  The last outing was proof of that.   Wildcats clawed their way to a three goal lead through Hamish Galt, Fraser Moran and Rob Harwood, but back came the Edinburgh side with goals from Dylan Bean and Jacob Tweedie for 3-2.  Cameron Moran advanced Wildcats to four followed by a second from Bean – that was 4-3 and that is how it stood at the end.   A close encounter.

Both sides have clinical goalscorers in their ranks, so there should be lots of goals and no doubt a close outcome.

In many respects Watsonians have been the revelation of the season – last year they won the Scottish Cup for the first time and now they sit in second spot.   And they will remain there if they can capture the three points at home to Hillhead.    Eleven points may separate the clubs in the Premiership but the earlier league encounter was a close run thing.   Watsonians were 3-0 up, then it was 3-3, and the Edinburgh side only grasped the three points with a last minute strike from Tommy Orr.

So what are Hillhead`s aspirations for the top six competition.  We asked coach Yan Adams. “Unlike ESM perhaps, I`d say we expected and demanded of ourselves to make top six this year given we had done so last.   Even if we made that difficult for ourselves.  There`s quite a gap between the top four and ESM/ourselves, so I`m sure both of us will be looking for a victory against each other, and also improved results to keep that top four and fifth place in mind.”

ESM have done very well to achieve a top six place but may find the going hard in this company.   However, the Lions were unlucky not to take something from Saturday`s opponents Edinburgh University on the opening day of the season.   The score stood at two each with two minutes to go but a late strike from Keir Robb secured the points for the students. With home advantage on Saturday, maybe the Lions could go one better.

There are a smattering of Scottish Cup ties over the weekend.  In the men`s Wildcats are at home to Grove Menzieshill while Edinburgh face Glasgow in the battle of the universities.

However, Hillhead are again in action at home to Grange.   Asked if there could be an upset on the cards, Hillhead coach Yan Adams remarked: “32% chance of an upset against Grange.  They beat us comfortably in the first half of the season and we`ll want to better that in the league, but cups can also be funny things so we`d like to make things hard for them.”

In the women`s cup Hillhead play Grange while Orkney take on Grange`s second string.

 

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