National League off to a flyer

Western v Grove Menzieshill 2National League opening weekend was a cracker with goals scored and great hockey played all over Scotland. In men’s National League 1 game of the day, title aspirants Grove Menzieshill went to Auchenhowie for the opening game of the first division campaign and came away with a well-earned 4-2 win over Western Wildcats.

At their first chance of the game Mike Ross fed the ball on to Cameron Golden and the Tayside teenager finished with a powerful reverse stick shot past Gavin Sommerville. The Wildcats had their chances through Joe McConnell, Rob Harwood and Adam McKenzie at a penalty corner, but it was the visitors who extended their lead with a set piece strike by Scotland under-21s Aidan McQuade.

Just before the interval the Wildcats clawed their way back into the contest, Ross Clunie fed the ball on to Fraser Calder and he slipped the ball home. Midway through the second half the Wildcats defence dithered, the ball fell kindly to Ciaran Crawford and he promptly dispatched it into the net for a 3-1 lead.

Wildcats believed they were back in the contest when Harwood turned a slotted the ball past the goalkeeper, but in less than a minute Adam Fallis restored the Dundonians two goal advantage with a powerful shot from the top of the circle.

Western v Grove Menzieshill 1

Elsewhere, Grange sent out their title aspirations with a 7-2 win over Gordonians, new signing Luke Cranney claimed a hat-trick, Aussie import Dominic Wild scored twice from penalty corners and the other goals came from Cammie Fraser and Callum Milne from the spot.

League champions Bromac Kelburne started the defence of their title with a 4-2 victory over Hillhead.  A double from Ben Peterson and goals by 14-year-old Finn Halliday and Josh Cairns did the damage.

Edinburgh University served notice on their top four intentions with a comfortable 5-1 win over PSL Clydesdale, their goals came from Ian Moodie, Nick Bryan and Jamie Wong in the first half with Dan Coultas and Callum White adding two more after the interval.

In the women`s competition there was goals aplenty. Edinburgh University started the defence of their title with a comfortable 4-0 win over Kelburne, Amy Brodie scored twice while the other goals came from Becky Dru and player/coach Sam Judge.

Elsewhere, Grove saw off Watsonians with the odd goal in seven. The incredible 4-3 win saw goals from Katie Robertson, Jenny Walls, Hanna Mckie and Sarah Jamieson. There was a big win for Milne Craig Western when they defeated Erskine Stewart`s Melville 8-2.

Hillhead won 4-1 against Edinburgh Cala in their opening game of the season. The scorers were Carla MacNiven, Louise Andrews and Nisha Kohli-Lynch.

Western Widcats opened their season with a 2-1 win over Dundee Wanderers with Scotland U21s player Chloe Hardie bagging one of the goals.

Photos by Duncan Gray at Duncolm Sports Photography

 

 

 

 

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